Darlington skipper Jack Mortimer scored a magnificent hat trick to inspire the Under 23s to a 3-2 home win over Consett Reserves in the Washington Aged People’s Trophy at Eastbourne on Saturday.

While the whole squad contributed to the victory, the afternoon belonged to Jack. Leading by example, the captain worked tirelessly off the ball, drove his team forward, and showed clinical finishing in front of goal.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “This victory was another positive step forward for the lads.The result showed not only our attacking ability but also our growing maturity in dealing with pressure late in the game. With Jack leading the line and the squad continuing to develop, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as the season progresses.”

Quakers started brightly, pressing high and showing great energy in midfield. From the opening whistle, Darlington looked sharp on the ball, moving it quickly and stretching Consett’s defence. The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Mortimer broke into space, controlled the ball well and calmly slotted beyond the Consett goalkeeper to give his side a deserved lead.

Darlington’s defence stood firm for the remainder of the half, dealing with Consett’s aerial threat and looking dangerous on the counter. The young Quakers went into the interval 1-0 ahead, with plenty of encouragement for the second half.

After the restart, Consett grew into the game and began to push numbers forward in search of an equaliser. However, Darlington’s resilience and composure shone through, with the midfield working tirelessly to protect the back line.

In the 71st minute, Mortimer once again showed his class. Latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the area, he produced a smart finish to double Darlington’s advantage and give his side breathing space. Consett did respond with a goal of their own shortly after, ensuring the game remained finely balanced heading into the final 20 minutes.

With pressure mounting, Darlington needed a moment of leadership - and Mortimer delivered again. On 81 minutes, he found himself in the right place at the right time, rifling home his third of the afternoon to complete a brilliant hat-trick. His celebration summed it up: passion, commitment, and pride in leading the U23s.

Consett struck again late on to make it 3-2, but Darlington defended bravely in the closing stages to secure the win. The final whistle brought relief and plenty of smiles, with the young Quakers rewarded for their determination and quality.