Darlington Women lost their unbeaten record when they were beaten 4-0 at home by Sunderland Women in the Durham County FA Women's League at Eastbourne today.

Apart from a couple of brief spells, Sunderland were on top, and Quakers will be working hard in training to correct things this week.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie had no complaints about the result, and clearly can see where improvements are needed.

“The best team won today," he said. "I thought we played well in the first half and matched Sunderland but they were clinical and took their chances. It could have been a different game if we got the equaliser just before half time through Hattie Raine but their keeper made a great save.

“Our heads went down a little in the second half when the second and third goals went in and we were just going through the motions waiting for the final whistle. Fair play to Sunderland who came to play football and played some good stuff. 

“We will pick ourselves up and go again next week, we will have to be better and will look to put things right this week in training. I think it’s a bit of a wake up call and still plenty of things we can improve on and we will work hard to do so. We know it’s a competitive league and we can’t be complacent, but we’ve still had a good start to the season and will look to pick some momentum back up next week in FA Cup action again.”

Here's the match report from Chris Barrett

Darlington started bright and got the first effort after 4 minutes with Chloe Ryan receiving the ball in the final third and getting a good shot on goal which was well saved by the keeper, this then came out to Nicole Graham who got to the ball and shot but it was superbly blocked by the defender.

Sunderland grew into the game quickly and were keeping the ball well working it through the thirds and after quarter of an hour the ball was picked up just outside the box and it was struck low and hard and it pinged off the bottom corner of the post.

It was on the half hour mark when Sunderland won a corner which was crossed deep to the back post and headed in from just outside the 6 yard box to give Sunderland the lead.

Three minutes later Darlington created another chance with Hattie Raine playing the ball from the centre out to Chloe Bright on the right who drove at goal and struck across goal but went just wide and not far away from Graham who was closing in.

Just before half time Darlington had another chance with the ball being played into the Sunderland box which was headed out to Raine who took it down and lashed it goal but was denied by a brilliant stop by the keeper with a strong hand. 

In the second half Sunderland came out strong and managed to get the ball down the right and create a chance on goal and shot which was saved by Ellen Atkinson and the rebound dropped to a Sunderland player who had a great opportunity to score but a brilliant block from Lily Large stopped the shot. On 51 minutes, Sunderland went two up with some good play around the box, it was played out to the left and then fed into the box for the attacker to make a quick turn and then smash the ball in off the underside of the bar.

Only eight minutes later it was three as the ball was played in and Atkinson came out for the ball but clashed with a defender and with both players down the ball fell to Sunderland and the ball was put in the back of the net. Darlington were struggling to create chances like they had in previous games and on 67 minutes the ball came to Lacey Baldwin 25 yards out who struck a good effort but it just went wide of the post.

It was a battling affair with Sunderland losing a player for a short period in the sin bin due to dissent but Darlington could not capitalise and there was a lack of composure on the ball which was shown in previous games. Just before the end of the game Sunderland got another with another attack from wide, allowing the ball to be put into the box with the attackers not picked up and the ball reached the free player to slot home. 

They were a deserved three points for Sunderland who played some excellent football retaining the ball well, getting around the pitch building well from the back with excellent distribution from the keeper.

Darlington will hopefully see a return to form next week as they meet Gateshead Leam at home in the County Cup.

This week’s player of the match was awarded to Alice Wearmouth who kept with a rapid Sunderland attack showing strength in the right moments and finding a number of good passes to start the build of play from the back.

We'd like to thank the following kit sponsors:

Martina Cuccunato: 

Home: Premier 1 Filtration 

Away: Vacant 

Ellen Atkinson:

Home: LW & GM Atkinsons & Son

Away: Harker Coaches

Evie Whittaker: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Vacant 

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 

Caisey Lee

Home: vacant

Away: vacant

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Sam Pascoe training kit: NC Group LTD

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant