Latest youth team round up

By Ray Simpson

Apr 20, 2023

How the youth teams are faring

Here's a round up of how our youth teams fared last weekend in the Russell Foster Youth League and the Teesside Junior Football Alliance League.

Because of FA rules, we're unable to publish the results of any matches involving Under 11s and below.

U10 Boys

DFC Quakers v Sunderland West End

We just weren’t at the races today from start to finish. It was a very uncharacteristic lack lustre performance. We allowed the opposition to press us with an intensity that we couldn’t match or stand up to and if not for some very spirited defending and defiance form the boys we could have conceded more than the one goal we limited them too. Credit to West End they were all up for the game and deserved to take the lead mid way through the second half. The boys did put together a few dangerous counterattacks late in the game and it wouldn’t have surprised us if we’d have snatched a draw given the pride the lads take in their performances and results but it wasn’t to be. Positives can be taken that even on an off day like today they were very hard to beat and didn’t buckle under the waves of pressure exerted on them. Bodies lying all over the goal mouth at one point from throwing themselves in front of shots, great to see such determination to try and salvage something from the game.

U10 Boys

DFC Quakers v Boro Rangers Oranges

Lovely hot morning in Middlesbrough, the game played in a pedestrian manner from both teams at times due to the heat. This was a game where we never looked into much danger and deservedly took a two goal lead, but in spells we afforded the opposition too much time and space to get their shots off and allowed a quick response to cut the deficit. Some of the football we played this morning was everything we’ve come to expect from the boys over the last 12-18 months. Goal of the game coming from a 5 pass move, a pass out from defence from LF4 to IT8 who played a neat one two with NP7 to then feed the ball in to JN9 to finish. No more than 6 touches of the ball from back to front resulting in a goal. At times we were wasteful in possession though and possibly due to the heat we didn’t make runs off the ball that we should and lost it in key areas, gifting the ball back to Boro and allowing them to put attacks together. However as we’ve come to expect, these attacks were snuffed out and we countered ourselves and we were clinical in front of goal today with 4 of the boys on the scoresheet with braces each.

All in all a good response to Saturdays game and much more to come from these boys.

Goals:

JN9 x 2

FC10 x 2

JJ11 x 2

NP7 x 2

U7 Boys

Quakers U7's travelled to a very good Leven side this morning.

After shaky first half, we managed to get the ball down and played some really good football scoring some unbelievable goals. We were down at half time but the lads dug their heels in and turned it around to get the win and maintain our 100% win rate 👏 brilliant performance again from the lads.

OM ⚽⚽

OR ⚽⚽

Really looking forward to our challenge cup semi final match next Sunday.

U16 Boys

Darlington FC U16s 2-0 Hurworth Albion u16s

Darlington progressed to the final of the cup today with a solid win over a competitive Hurworth side from the league above. Several players go to school together so the town rivalry added some extra spice to the contest with a place in the final at stake.

The home side dominated the first half and deservedly took then lead after 8 minutes when Luca Smith was freed in behind running towards the near post, unselfishly squaring it for Lennon who’s effort was well blocked but rebounded in off a defender for an OG.

Hurworth threatened on the counter with pacey forwards, Occasionally drawing Noah Graves into action. After a shaky midweek outing, Noah was outstanding today in the commanding of his area, claiming high balls and sweeping up - deserved MOTM.

Darlington continued to probe through the half but 1-0 was the score at the interval.

The second period picked up where the first left off, Darlington pressure. Hurworth posed a danger from multiple set pieces but the home side stood firm throughout, Ewan Marriott marshaling the back 3 with dominating performance. When the impactful Luca Smith planted a low drive home on the hour mark, the two-goal cushion seemed unassailable, and it proved to be so. Captain Dylan Robson controlled the game from his midfield position which set the tone for his teammates who gladly followed suit. The intensity of the press in midfield was an a different level, the match was won in this area today.

In the closing stages, Darlington smelt blood with Josh, Lennon, Reuben and Finn all coming close to adding some gloss to a classy performance, but it finished 2-0. A delighted Darlington progress to the final on the 7th May. An occasion to remember for the lads who’ve worked so hard to get there! 💪🏼

⚽️ OG

⚽️ Luca Smith

⭐️ Noah Graves

Match sponsors: Claire Hogg Mortgages and Protections Ltd

U11 Girls

Darlington Under 11 Feethams vs Boro Rangers Under 11 Girls- SEMI FINAL

Today we faced a tough Boro rangers side in the league cup semi final. We always knew this was going to be a physical game so the girls came out ready.

Both teams began strong, creating some brilliant football and testing both keepers.

After around 20 minutes AS created a great ball for CM to strike in the top corner with an unbelievable finish.

Boro Rangers reacted well and managed to get the equaliser just before the half time whistle.

The second half began and both teams were fighting for the next goal in hope of reaching the final.

It was Boro Rangers who then scored the next with a questionable offside goal.

Both teams played some fantastic football and some great goals were scored by both sides.

Unfortunately Darlington did not get the result they deserved and it was a hard one to take but the girls showed their passion and desire all the way through. We couldn’t be prouder.

We wish Boro Rangers all the luck in the final⚽️

POM- Everyone

GOAL-

Chloe M⚽️

Own goal⚽️

U11 Boys

Marton Royals Vs. Darlington FC

Goalscorers: OC

POTM: EM

After heavy rain fall had put our home pitch in doubt we reversed the fixture and headed over to Marton for the second time this season. Just like the first encounter there was some excellent football played but with limited chances for both teams.

The game was settled in the second half when TO pressured the Marton right-back who’s subsequent miss placed pass found EM. A quick pass from EM found the feet of FR who turned neatly. FR then picked out the on running OC who struck a lovely low shot beating the Marton keeper to his bottom left corner.

Good all around from our boys today who played some nice football and worked tirelessly to regain possession. The decision making by the lads starting with TH in goal with the ball at his feet led to some good build up play. The boys stuck to task during the game with decent shape throughout. Good reading of the game again from NH at the heart of the backline and the movement off the ball across the pitch was much improved by all players, this was especially the case in the central areas.

Pleased for the boys, another enjoyable game for them and a good team effort.

Sponsored by:

* First Class Learning

* The Cross Keys (Gainford)

U17 Boys

Darlington U17s v New Marske.

We travelled away to Marske today to play a team that could be a potential banana skin against bottom of the league that have only been getting beat by a small margin. We arrived and were informed that the ref had just pulled off the game and no ref available! Up stepped the gaffer(Grant Cuthbertson)to referee the first half as long as Marske did the second.

The game KO and both teams had a very bright start with Darlington taking the lead in the 11th min. We continued to dominate but their keeper was pulling off some really good saves until we scored 2 very quick goals to make it 0-3. We switched off a little on the 37 min from a free kick and Marske scored from a simple header at the back post after he wasn’t tracked! It remained 1-3 till HT.

Second half we continued the same dominance and play with a 4th from Jake Patterson from the outside of the box. 5 mins later we added a 5th. We added a further 2 more goals to make it 1-7. A couple of players from the monumental effort they put in and a heavy pitch started to feel a bit leggy but to no avail and it finished 1-7 to Darlo.

Overall a really good performance from the boys that will hopefully see us carry that confidence and momentum through to the Durham County U18 Cup Final on Tuesday evening.

⚽️ Alfie Fawcett

⚽️ Maciej Nuprejczyk

⚽️ Jake Patterson

⚽️⚽️ Harry Hodgson

⚽️⚽️ Raphael Oppong

🏆 Luke Wade

U11 Boys

Darlington U11's Quakers v Bishop Auckland St Mary's

Today seen the team have a full squad going into the match.

From the very first whistle the boys pressed the opposition through out the first half, playing some amazing football.

The chances were created and Darlington finally broke the scoreline just before the half time whistle, an amazing team goal which was struck into the back of the net by FC.

A the second half kicked off, only a few minutes into the half, Bishop were awarded a penalty only to be saved superbly by LP.

This only added extra drive and determination to the Darlington player's, who continued to attack the opposition and by doing so we're awarded there own penalty a couple of minutes later which was driven in the back of the net by RP.

This second goal gave the coaches a lot of time to switch players on and off and in different positions to try new things, which worked. As again some lovely football got played, and an even better through ball found it's way to HS who slotted the third into the net.

As the game was coming towards the final whistle, Darlington found themselves with possession of the ball, and drove towards the goal this time scored by LN.

This result, leaves the team in a very good position for the upcoming game on Tuesday night.

*Goal scorers* :

Freddie Curtis ⚽

Ralphine Parker ⚽

Harry Stephens ⚽

Leo Niblett ⚽

*POTM* :

Griffin Leggott 🔥

U10 Boys

Darlington Feethams v Great Ayton.

The fixtures are coming thick and fast for Darlington with this being the 3rd in 4 days.

Darlington started very slowly and sat too deep, struggling to get out at times and when they did there was very little support for our forward players. This self inflicted pressure eventually led to a Great Ayton goal and in truth there could and perhaps should have been more before the 1/2 time whistle blew.

A very direct team talk at 1/2 time left the boys under no impression that the next 25 minutes had to be the polar opposite of what they had produced so far and boy did they respond!

Pressing high and with intensity from the off, Great Ayton started to panic and make mistakes which led to wave after wave of Darlington attacks. One of these saw some great wing work from RH who found JB on the opposite side of the box, with defenders closing in the ball was rolled back to HS to rifle in to the roof of the net from outside the box.

The Darlington pressure continued and the pace of the game had Great Ayton chasing shadows. A smart save from their keeper led to a corner which JB delivered to SB on the edge of the box and in honour of the famous Paul Scholes goal the ball struck the back of the net.

JW then got in on the act, bundling his way through the defence in his trademark style before finding the back of the net.

From a rare Great Ayton attack Darlington added their final goal with JB picking the ball up on the 1/2 way line, turning his defender and baring down on the GK before curling it in to the bottom corner.

Another great result for Darlington who are now unbeaten in 13 games.

Goals - HS, SB, JW & JB

MOTM - RH

Match sponsor - Andrew Bruce