Birtley 3 Darlington Women 1

Quakers lost ground on the top four when they were beaten 3-1 at Birtley on Sunday.

They took the lead in the first half, but couldn’t increase their lead, and their opponents hit back and took the three points.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It was a frustrating day, we just never really got going. We started well, getting the first goal with some good play but just didn’t kick on from there. We allowed Birtley back into the game and if it wasn’t for Evie Whittaker in the first half, we might have been further behind. We had a reaction in the second half and I thought we had enough to go on and win the game. 

“Neither team could really settle and get the ball down, not much football was played and the wind didn’t help with that. But we still had the chances to win the game at 1-1 and you’re always going to get punished if you don’t take your chances. Birtley managed to get the second and it was one of those games where a bit of quality gets you the points and it was a great finish. It’s a shame we couldn’t build a bit of momentum after a good win against Boldon last week but we will continue to work hard in training and go again in a couple weeks away at Horden.”

Here's the match report from Chris Barrett

It was Birtley who started brighter getting an early chance in the first minute but could not convert. In the seventh minute, Alice Wearmouth went on a marauding run out from the back starting the play and the ball found its way to Chloe Ryan who played a good ball into the box from the right and Hattie Raine met it first but was smothered by the keeper, the rebound then fell nicely for Raine who took advantage of the situation and put the ball past the defender into the empty net for the lead.

The play was congested with a heavy midfield but it was Birtley who were looking the stronger and had a good opportunity on thirteen minutes with a free kick from the edge of the box when a Birtley player was sandwiched but they could not take advantage. Birtley were then level on twenty minutes with Birtley getting the ball into the box and getting a good shot away which was well saved by Evie Whittaker, however Birtley were quickest to react and the second shot was squeezed home.

Darlington still struggled to get an attacking impetus and it took another number of good saves from Whittaker to keep Darlington in the game. Just before the half ended Birtley countered well down the right and managed to get the ball squared into the box with an overload and it took an important last gasp block from Emma Carter to keep the shot out and she was also there to recover to keep the subsequent effort out and cleared.

Birtley started the second half quick and were in 1v1 immediately breaking through the middle for a free shot on goal but again Whittaker stood strong. Darlington did manage to create some attempts on goal with Chloe Ryan breaking down the left side to get a shot away which was saved by the keeper and Hattie also had a good chance which was unfortunately put wide.

On 75 minutes, Birtley took the lead when a throw should have been dealt with but there was too much space given and from just outside the box it was struck high into the top corner. With Darlington pressing to attack, it left gaps and this was punished with a low pass down the right leaving another 1v1 with the keeper and it was fired into the back of the net.

Darlington did continue to push and came closest with a free kick from the left from Chloe Tinkler playing it into the near post and a flick on from Sara Waites over the keeper but it was just wide.

The game finished 3-1 to Birtley in what was a lacklustre performance lacking the bite needed to create and convert more chances. Player of the match was awarded to Evie Whittaker for a number of good stops particularly from 1v1 situations.

Here's the league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html?league=901345664&selectedSeason=85293540&selectedDivision=371387182&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_97264698

We'd like to thank the following kit sponsors

Ellen Atkinson:

Home: LW & GM Atkinsons & Son

Away: Harker Coaches

Evie Whittaker: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Premier One Filtration

Emma Carter:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology)

Alice Wearmouth:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology) 

Lou Brown:

Home: Saddington Taylor LTD

Away: vacant

Gabi Paduriaru:

Home: David Stothard

Away: Colin Bromley

Millie Garnett:

Home: Eco Hair Salon

Away: Phil's Fine Finishes

Lily Large:

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation  

Away: Vacant 

Chloe Tinkler: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Brinkburn Pub

Chloe Bright: 

Home: Jordan Hanratty Personal Training 

Away: Active Kids Play Scheme

Toni Upton

Home: Dawn Fire Safety 

Away: Dawn Fire Safety

Emma Doudican 

Home: Winroths Hairdressing  

Away: Winroths Hairdressing 

Olivia Whitworth

Home: Terry Farley MBE

Away: Vacant 

Aimee Dagnall 

Home: Andrew Scullion

Away: Vacant

Hattie Raine: 

Home: Thomas Watson Auctioneers 

Away: Thomas Watson Auctioneers 

Katie Sheridan: 

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation 

Away: Ingleton Site Management LTD

Lacey Baldwin: 

Home: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Away: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Chloe Ryan: 

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation

Away: The Little Quaker Distillery 

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Leanne Mulligan:

Home and away: Stockton Town Rugby Club

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Assistant manager training kit: NC Group LTD

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant