Justin Donawa made his debut for new club Darlington FC in a 3-1 loss away to Farsley Celtic in their Vanarama National League North season opener at the weekend.

The Bermuda winger got his first taste of English non-League football after coming on as a 82-minute substitute at the Citadel on Saturday.

Donawa’s Bermuda team-mate, Osagi Bascome, was an unused substitute during the match which saw a poor first-half display come back to haunt the visitors.

Farsley took the lead in the tenth minute when Tyler Walton gathered a wayward pass and lashed a right foot shot past Darlington goalkeeper Chris Elliott.

Nathan Cartman then bundled in fellow forward Will Hayhurst’s pass from close range at the second attempt to double the home team’s advantage in the seventeenth minute.

Forward James Spencer put the game further beyond Darlington’s reach ten minutes before the break when he tapped in defender Adam Clayton’s long throw at the back post unmarked.

The visitors finally pulled one back just past the hour mark when forward Adam Campbell curled a right foot shot beyond the keeper into the net.

Donawa made his debut a day after Darlington officially announced they had signed the 23-year-old player.

“Justin has done well in the friendlies he’s played,” Alun Armstrong, the Darlington manager, said. “He’s got plenty of pace, and can cause defences problems.”

“We would like to welcome Justin to the club, and wish him all the best in his time here.”

Donawa started trials at the club after returning from international duty with the national team at last month’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

The former Somerset Trojans player all but secured a deal after coming on as a halftime substitute and netting in Darlington’s 4-0 win in a preseason friendly away to Northallerton on July 23. He also scored in a 3-2 win at Esh Winning exactly a week later.

Darlington will host Gateshead in their next league outing on Wednesday night.