Action from the Under 9 game

Darlington Feethams Under 9s win 3-1

Match report by Martin Williamson

Man of the match: Kai Martin 
Scorer: Kai Martin (3)
Sponsors: Buckley Specialist Recruitment & DFC Fuels

2nd game: 1-1

The boys put in one of their best performances to date against a very good and strong visiting team. The game started and Feethams were under pressure from the kick off. Great defensive play kept the score goalless, along with some decisive blocks from Alva Williamson. Then against the run of play Feethams broke away and Kai Martin scored a great individual goal to put the boys one nil up. A switch of formation saw the boys play a more aggressive style of football. But before the break our opponents scored a well-deserved equaliser.

HT 1-1

The second half saw the boys put in an outstanding display. Kai Martin put the boys into the lead with a second individual goal. Then the best passage of play I have seen at this level, led to a 'goal of the season' to complete Kai's hat-trick. Some great football playing out from defence, through midfield, then a ball wide to Mason Theaker who delivered a great cross that was finished off with a bullet header by Kai Martin.

Every player today was outstanding from both goalkeepers Josh and Joel. Defence were solid, great communication between Oscar and Jenson. Midfield worked tirelessly Jack, Mason, Alva and Harry. Great forward play from Riley and Kai.

A great performance, with a great result, against a very good team. Very proud!

Darlington Under 7s Feethams score double figures

Match report by Paul Orton

Sponsored by First Class Learning
Won 12 - 1 (Scorers: Frankie Dempster, Myles Brown 2, Thomas Orton 4, Jack Williamson 5)
One of those games where the quality of goal scored was more relevant than the amount scored. We applied pressure straight from kick off and continued this throughout, playing a high tempo game. We never really gave the opposition time on the ball. The opposition were not quite with it due to lack of game time experience, but they did keep trying and to our disappointment they managed to get a 2nd half goal. This being mainly due to the loss of discipline throughout the team with all players pressing very high and leaving volumes of space for an opportunist striker to take advantage.
Overall, good again from the young lads. All 8 players were happy to try playing in unfamiliar positions and mostly applied themselves brilliantly. Yeah, we would have liked a clean sheet, but positional discipline is hard at any level when being so much on top and winning a game by a comfortable margin.
It will be a different type of game next week but all are crucial experience and another chance for the boys to learn.

Darlington Under 8 Quakers win best of nine game

Match report by Martin Sowerby

Last week we were Man City, this week we were 🇧🇷 from the 70’s! 

Difficult challenge for the boys, poor weather conditions and only five fit players.

The boys started nervously in the first few minutes, trying to work out the opposition, who started brightly. Quakers started to find their stride as great play in attack between Tobias and Albert led to a shot just wide from Albert. The opposition started to push forward and a good tackle in defence stopped their attack.

A lapse in concentration from the goal kick led to our visitors taking the lead. This unsettled the boys as the opposition struck the post twice following hesitant play from Quakers. This jolted the boys into action and started to play better football. Using quick throw-ins between them kept the Quakers pushing forward and applying pressure higher up the pitch. Tobias and Albert were holding wide positions, Justin energetic in attack, Joe solid at the back and Grayson was using his box well to open up play.

A succession of attack play led to a corner. Tobias played a lovely ball into the near post for Justin to deftly flick his header in at the near post for an equaliser. The boys really started to dominate possession now and a sweeping move from Grayson to Joe, whose pass found Tobias in space. Tobias’ ball out wide found Albert, who played a nice pass into feet for Justin to lay off for Tobias whose well struck shot hit the crossbar, the move reminiscent of 1970’s Brazil 🇧🇷. Another piece of good attacking play saw Justin’s shot strike the post.

Building from solid foundations from the back, another sweeping move forward involving all the boys, found Tobias outside the area who’s dipping strike found the far top-corner, leaving the opposing goalkeeper with no chance, a questionable Dele Ali celebration followed! Another excellent move between Joe, Albert and Tobias led to Tobias’ 2nd of the game with a well-placed finish in the bottom corner to give Quakers a 2 goal lead. As the half drew to a close, our opposition mounted a rare attack and drew a smart save from Grayson low down at the corner. Quakers finished the half with a shot from Justin which narrowly went wide.

2nd half started slowly and our opponents grabbed a goal back with their first attack of the half. This didn’t faze the boys who continued with their high energy style and began to exert their dominance across the pitch. Leading by example from the front, Justin was quick to press at every opportunity, closely supported by Tobias and Albert. It was from this pressure that Albert grabbed his 1st of the game. A long throw from Tobias caused panic in our opponent’s defence allowed Justin to hook the ball over the keeper’s head and Albert was on hand to poke home to restore the 2 goal lead.

Quakers very much on top at this stage with various attacks drawing saves from the opposition keeper, including a David De Gea style save to tip a great half volley from Tobias onto the bar and block the subsequent follow up. Such was Quakers dominance, there was little for Joe and Grayson to deal with at the back, but continued to keep concentrated in worsening weather conditions. The lack of a sub today, coupled with the work rate put into the game, did start to have an effect as our opponents grabbed 2 quick goals to draw level. One from a well struck free-kick and an equaliser after Quakers failed to clear the box.

Full time was fast approaching and every player had to dig deep to try and conjure the winner. Each and everyone of them found a second wind and were sharper, faster and quicker to the ball in all areas. It was from this work that Quakers broke, Tobias won the ball in midfield with a strong challenge, played a pass in Justin’s feet, who turned, travelled 5 yards and struck a great shot into the bottom corner, the boys all celebrated as one. No time for our visitors to reply as the full time whistle went straight from kick off as Quakers were victorious with a very hard-working and gritty display.

Special mention for both teams, who kept going in horrible conditions and neither side complained once.