Darlington Women are through to the second qualifying round of the Women’s FA Cup thanks to a great 4-2 away win at Carlisle United on Sunday.

Hattie Raine was the player of the match with two goals and two assists, with Issie Nattress and Ella Leach getting the others.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “We’re fairly pleased with today’s performance, we did what we needed to do and got the win to be in the hat for the next round. Plenty of positives to take from the game but still stuff to go away and work on in training. It was a sloppy start to the game but once we got the first goal, we settled down and played some decent stuff in spells.

“I was happy with the work rate and the effort shown by all who got on the pitch. Their work off the ball was good and ball recovery is getting there. We limited Carlisle to minimal chances and were always in control of the game. On the ball we need to be a little more composed and braver but that will come as the season goes on and we spend more time playing together.

“I thought Hattie was outstanding today and they couldn’t live with her. Looking more like the Hattie we know as it can take a bit of time to get back to full match sharpness with her missing the majority of last season through injury.

“Also a massive well done to Amélie who played her first competitive minutes in senior women’s football today at just 16 years old. If the whistle was blown two minutes earlier it would have been 4-0 and a clean sheet on her competitive debut.’

“However, concentration levels dipped and it’s obviously disappointing to concede the two late goals. Amélie couldn’t have really done much about them but that’s something we will learn from as a team and manage the game better in those moments, epecially conceding a second so soon after we concede the first.

“Despite the two late goals, that doesn’t take away the good aspects of the performance and there was plenty of good. We can take a lot of positive things into next week’s first league game, away at Boldon which we know will be a good test for the girls.”

The first quarter of an hour was a cagey affair with both teams struggling to get the ball down and play. However, Hattie Raine settled the nerves with a lovely little lob over the keeper after a great ball from captain Aimee Dagnall on the 12th minute. 

Darlo were 2-0 up after 20 minutes with Issie Nattrass getting on the scoresheet and scoring her first competitive goal for the club. Hattie turning provider this time with good hold up play and Nattrass finishing well to double Darlo’s lead. 

The Quakers should have been 3-0 up after a quick throw on the left hand side saw Lily Wilkinson take the ball and finish well. But the linesman ruled it out for offside. The third goal eventually came just after the half hour mark with Raine getting her second of the game, direct from a corner with a Carlisle defender handling the ball on the line but the goal had already been given as the ball had allegedly crossed the line. 

The second half was very much stop start and there weren’t really any clear cut chances until a frantic last 10 minutes of the game. Amélie Crumpton kept Carlisle at bay with a fantastic save on a ball that bounced over her head, scurrying back to claw the ball back on the line. 

Substitute Ella Leach got Darlington’s fourth goal, a  fantastic header from another Hattie Raine corner. Carlisle then got a consolation with a minute left to go and then got another goal straight after. The final whistle was blown straight after the second goal.

Player of the match was awarded to Hattie Raine, 2 goals and 2 assists and an overall top performance.

 A massive thank you to Carlisle for the game and good luck for the season ahead. We await to see who we will draw in the draw for the Second Round Qualifying. The game will be played in two weeks time on Sunday 20th September.