Darlington FC Youth U14 4 Polton Blue U14 1

(Home kit sponsored by DBS)

MOTM: Liam Wynn

Darlington welcomed 2nd placed Polton Blue to Eastbourne SC hoping to build on their very impressive away win last weekend at Marton.

They started the game in similar fashion and dictated much of the early play, the visitors’ more physical approach struggled to compete with Darlington's short and sharp passing game and they were limited to long balls over the top or trying to hit their hosts on the break.

Minutes ticked by though with neither team making a breakthrough.

The home side though threatened almost constantly, Liam Wynn, Ollie Johnson and Kieran Longstaff all going close. Just prior to the half hour the deadlock was finally broken. Pressure around the Polton box led to a ball breaking free for Kieran Longstaff to tap in an easy effort from six yards out. Things went much the same way for the rest of the half without any change to the score line.

Darlington continued to apply pressure and looked very likely to be the next scorers as their opponents’ appetite for the game seem to being waning a little. Ten minutes in and the inevitable happened Olly Johnson created a chance for himself and finishing calmly and precisely into the bottom right hand corner.

Any attack on the home goal was being quashed by a solid looking defence marshalled by Alex Mason and if it got that far, 'keeper Kenzie Alton mopped up. The home side threatened almost at will and it was no surprise when they added a third from a Tom Horner free-kick on the left, floated in for Liam Wynn to volley in from 12 yards, a superb finish. Darlington continued to boss the game, but with fifteen minutes remaining they spoiled what looked to be a faultless performance, the ball not being cleared from a Polton corner and after a scramble the ball was prodded home.

Any remote chances of a comeback were dismissed when Olly Johnson hit a rocket of a shot from 20 yards out.

A final score of 4-1 was well deserved for Darlington who continue to climb towards a top two position in the league table with games in hand still to play.