Darlington Women are through to the next round of the Women’s FA Cup after they won at Bedlington Belles on Sunday.

Goals from Toni Upton, Hattie Raine, Chloe Ryan (2) and Aimee Dagnall helped them to victory, although they had to endure an enforced 30 minute break after the heavens opened.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “We started really well and created plenty of chances. We were knocking the ball around and keeping possession and the early stages were good. The grass was long and didn’t suit our passing game but we kept at it scored three fantastic goals with some good build up play. Some cracking finishes by all thre of Hattie, Chloe and Dags. However, I was disappointed with how we got complacent and let Bedlington back into the game. It should have been five or six in the first half and game over.

‘The thunderstorm and essentially a 45 minute half time due to 30 minutes suspended play was far from ideal. But to be fair to the girls we started the better team in the second half and another two goals quickly followed. Toni’s goal was a very well worked team goal and another excellent finish. We have just got to eliminate the individual mistakes that are leading to goals because against other teams we will get punished. We look forward to hosting Sunderland West End in the next round.”

Match Report by Chris Barrett

The game started in humid heat and the pressure was on Darlington as favourites for the game and they came out strong with early efforts from Hattie Raine and Chloe Ryan coming close to giving Darlington the lead. On 11 minutes, the early pressure paid off with Hattie Raine winning the ball on the right hand side of the box and setting herself before unleashing a great strike into the top bins in the right hand corner to give Darlington the lead.

Only a minute later the ball was fed from the middle by Aimee Dagnall into the on running path of Chloe Ryan who struck the ball low across goal and found the bottom corner to double the Darlington lead. On 19 minutes the lead became three when Toni Upton played the ball to Aimee Dagnall in the centre and from 35 yards struck it sweetly into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

After this Bedlington got more into the game retaining the ball well and becoming more comfortable in possession.

On the half hour mark, Bedlington played a long ball over the top with the striker taking the ball down exquisitely and creating some space and firing low past Evie Whitaker.

The game was more even and Darlington’s most prominent attacking threat was from Emma Carter down the left, time after time beating players and getting crosses into the box but Darlington were unable to convert before half time.

There was drama at half time as the referee had to liaise with the teams to agree to a short suspension due to the worsening weather with thunder and lightning in the area and the referee required to ensure the safety of the players. During the suspension the heavens opened and it poured with rain adding to the worsening conditions putting the pitch at risk. As the agreed 30

minute suspension expired the weather was assessed and the pitch inspected and thankfully the game was given the go ahead.

Bedlington came out quick looking to attack straight away and managing to get a strike away but it went over the bar. Darlington took a few minutes to get back into the game and on 49 minutes when they did, the ball was worked from left to right, with Aimee Dagnall playing a fantastic through ball on the left to Chloe Ryan, who beat her player, put the ball in the box to Hattie Raine, who couldn’t find space to shoot so laid it right to the once again overlapping Chloe Bright, who set the ball back to Upton on the edge of the area to set herself and strike precisely across goal into the side netting for Darlingtons fourth.

Just four minutes later Darlington got a fifth when Chloe Ryan hit a speculative high effort and it dropped high to beat the keeper. Bedlington reacted to this with a resurgence that first came from a counter with a long ball from left to right but the shot went just wide.

On 66 minutes Bedlington were rewarded for their perseverance when the ball wasn’t sufficiently dealt with by Darlington allowing Bedlington to get in and put the ball away to make it 5-2 to Darlington. Darlington then came close when Chloe Ryan managed to swing in a great ball in from the left for Lily Wilkinson to try and meet but it was well smothered by the goalkeeper.

On 78 minutes Bedlington got their third with a long through ball which skidded off the turf allowing the striker in and a smart lofted finish over the goalkeeper. Darlington didn’t rest on their laurels and maintained pressure of their own with Chloe Bright crossing a good ball in to be headed just wide and just before the final whistle a close range shot was magnificently saved by the Bedlington goalkeeper.

Darlington held on and progressed to the next round of the cup where they will face Sunderland West End Ladies.

There were a number of solid performances from the team today in different positions but player of the match was awarded to Emma Carter (sponsored by Direct Flooring) beating players over and over and covering large areas of the pitch to cut out the danger and help progress the play.

We’d like to thank the following kit sponsors:

Evie Whittaker: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Vacant 

Emma Carter:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: Vacant

Sophie McNally:

Home: Vacant  

Away: Vacant

Lou Brown:

Home: Saddington Taylor LTD

Away: vacant

Millie Garnett:

Home: Eco Hair Salon

Away: Phil's Fine Finishes

Lily Large:

Home: Vacant 

Away: Vacant 

Millie Soderman: 

Home: Corporate Personal Well Being 

Away: Vacant 

Chloe Tinkler: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Brinkburn Pub

Chloe Bright: 

Home: Jordan Hanratty Personal Training 

Away: SR Entertainments 

Toni Upton

Home: Dawn Fire Safety 

Away: Dawn Fire Safety  

Emily Taylor 

Home: Northern Renewables 

Away: Northern Renewables 

Aimee Dagnall 

Home: Durham Blinds

Away: Vacant

Hattie Raine: 

Home: CNA Electronics

Away: CNA Electronics 

Katie Sheridan: 

Home: Darl Knight

Away: Vacant 

Lacey Baldwin: 

Home: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Away: Vacant 

Chloe Ryan: 

Home: Vacant 

Away: Vacant 

Sara Waites: 

Home: Teesside University 

Away: Teesside University  

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Leanne Clennett:

Home: Stockton Town Rugby Club

Away: Stockton Town Rugby Club 

Lucy Hart:

Home: Top Spec Boots

Away: D&G Trophies 

Lily Wilkinson:

Home: The Tuns at Sadberge 

Away: The Tuns at Sadberge 

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Stu Burkin training kit:Vacant 

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant