Hartlepool Pools Women 1 Darlington Women 3

Darlington Women are through to the third qualifying round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup with a great 3-1 away win – and in the process maintained their superb unbeaten record in league and FA Cup this season.

They now await Monday lunchtime’s draw to find out who they play in the next round.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It was a very pleasing performance. From the very first minute, our players were up for the game. We passed the ball around quicker, moved it around well, upped the tempo and controlled the game.

“I’m really happy for our players, everyone celebrated together at the end of the game. We’re really looking forward to the next round.”

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett

The game began with Darlington starting the stronger of the two teams and the first effort of the game coming after 4 minutes when a shot from Chloe Bright to the left of the goal was parried away by the keeper. After 13 minutes Darlington won a corner which was whipped in by Hattie Raine and Alice Wearmouth leapt above the Hartlepool defence to dispatch a bullet header into the back of the net to put Darlington ahead – her first goal for the club.

This awoke Hartlepool who began to get more into the game. Their first significant effort came after 17 minutes when a low free kick was put into the Darlington box and a low shot was well saved and pushed away by keeper Martina Cuccunato. Darlington then had another effort when Sophie Curle pressed the Pools defence and this allowed Raine to get a shot away which hit the post. This was then followed up soon after with a shot by Aimee Dagnall who struck the bar. 

After 29 minutes Hartlepool got a corner of their own which was played low towards the edge of the box, it was picked up by the Pools skipper who fired in through a crowd of players giving Cuccunato no chance to react and giving Pools their equaliser. 

Darlington suffered a worrying injury when after 38 minutes Toni Upton took a blow to the face and was temporarily forced off due to a blood injury.  After surviving with ten players for the next five or so minutes, Quakers came back and managed to work the ball into the box from the right hand side to cross low to Raine who got a shot away which was well saved by the keeper.

The second half started even, and Pools got the first attempt at goal when a corner was played in, but the resulting shot was high and wide. Darlington followed this up with a shot from Emma Doudican which was blocked for a corner and then a shot from Sophie Curle which was put just wide.

Darlington then continued to battle and win the ball in the centre of the park. The ball made its way to the feet of Dagnall who created some space and struck a lovely curling effort from 22 yards past the keeper to give Darlington a 2-1 lead in the 63rd minute. Quakers went close again soon after when the ball was whipped into the box and a header from Olivia Whitworth hit the underside of the bar.

Pools then got back into the game keeping hold of the ball better but creating little. The game became more difficult when the weather got much worse with the heavens opening making visibility hard for all. This contributed to a tense final period with Darlington becoming more defensive to try and see out the game.

When given the opportunity Darlington tried to keep the ball in the final third to see out the game. Dagnall threw the ball into Olivia Whitworth who surprised the defence with a smart turn and dribbled into the box and when a pullback looked on, she deceived the keeper and with a flick of the foot put it past the keeper at the near post for a 3-1 lead and a Darlington win. It was Olivia's first goal for the club.

A very good performance all round and Darlington will be pleased with a solid defensive performance from Caisey Lee, Alice Wearmouth, Natalie Peart, Emma Carter and Chloe Tinkler late on who from the outset stifled the attack and limited Pools to set piece opportunities.

The team is now unbeaten in five league and FA Cup ties!

STARTING XI

Martina Cuccunato, Caisey Lee, Alice Wearmouth, Natalie Peart, Emma Carter, Toni Upton, Aimee Dagnall, Emma Doudican, Chloe Bright, Hattie Raine, Sophie Curle 

Subs: Chloe Tinkler, Sarah Frew, Gabrielle Padurariu, Olivia Whitworth, Millie Garnett

Player of the match: Aimee Dagnall 

Substitutes used:

Whitworth for Bright 

Tinkler for Raine 

Garnett for Upton 

Hattie Raine (sponsored by Krystal Sells), Emma Carter (The Cheese and Wine Shop), Emma Doudican (Winroths Hairdressers), Sarah Frew (Chic Beauty Academy), Martina Cuccanato (Premier 1 Filtration), Caisey Lee (Engage to Learn), Olivia Whitworth (Terry Farley MBE), Sophie Curle (Franks Carpets), Natalie Peart (RA Dalton Ltd), Toni Upton (Dawn Fire Safety), Alice Wearmouth (Direct Flooring), Chloe Bright (Jordan Hanratty Personal Training),  Francesca Smith (Josh Moate), Chloe Tinkler (Glen and Mary Bowes), Millie Garnett (eco Hair Salon),