Darlington Women suffered a disappointing defeat at Chester-le-Street Amazons on Sunday, which has virtually ended their top four hopes.

They lost 6-2 after getting off to a poor start, although there were some positives to take from the game, with Toni Upton making her return after several months out.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It’s a tough one to take, the girls know it wasn’t good enough and it was one of those days. Sometimes they happen and we’ve just got to get over it and move on quickly. It’s really frustrating, how inconsistent we have been this season but we have still got two games left and we need to pick ourselves up and react at Boldon next week.

“This is our second season together and we know fine well that if you let your standards slip in this league, then you will get punished. Amazons are an established side who are organised and always give you a game, and they fully deserved the points.

“The only few positives we can take, were goals for Chloe Tinkler and Emily Taylor (their first for the club). Tinks has been close so many times this season from set pieces, so it’s typical that she scores a screamer from open play. I am really pleased for Emily to get her first goal as well, she’s worked hard since she’s came in and deserves it, at only 16, she’s got a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing her progress with us.

“We can also take great satisfaction in Toni Upton returning to the pitch. She managed to get 30 minutes in on her return and it’s a massive boost to have the skipper back. She’s been missed on and off the pitch and it’s not easy coming back after 6 months out, credit to Toni for her hard work in recovery and taking it so well and shoutout to our physio Dan Lupu for helping with that process’ 

Here's the match report from Chris Barrett:

Darlington started rather flat and early errors allowed Amazons to press high from the start and get an early foothold in the game.

It didn’t take long for the pressure to tell and Amazons were ahead after the 6th minute when there was too much space allowed on the right and just from the inside of the box a shot was struck high over the keeper and into the far side just under the top corner.

Darlington got into the game a little more and just before the quarter hour mark, as Darlington were pressing high the ball was cleared and rolling out to half way to be met by Chloe Tinkler who hit a speculative one from just inside the Amazons half but it was met perfectly and struck at goal. The ball rose and sailed high with the keeper backtracking and unable to reach it dropped perfectly under the bar for one hell of an equaliser.

A couple of minutes later Darlington went close with good work up the middle and a neat ball played through the middle by Chloe Ryan into the box for Lily Wilkinson who pushed the ball to the right and got the shot away but it was well saved.

On seventeen minutes, Amazons were ahead again with an attack down the left, Chloe Bright got enough pressure to make it a difficult shot which allowed Evie Whitaker to make a good save but it bounced off the post and landed at the feet of the attacker who was able to poke the ball home.

Just after the half hour mark Whitaker was in the action with two fantastic saves from close range with the initial shot pushed on to the bar and the second cleared out.

Only a minute later it was three for Amazons when the ball was played in down the left and the winger cut inside to swing the ball in dangerously to the back post and with the pressure on a Darlington, a leg was outstretched to intercept and it was unfortunately turned into the back of the net for an own goal. 

After half time, Darlington came out with more vigour and the early intensity paid off when the press from Emily Taylor in the middle allowed her to win the ball and the drive it forward towards the box and with plenty of space hit the ball and it was sweetly struck and flew over the keeper into the back of the net to get one back for Darlington and make it 2-3.

On the 50th minute Amazons were in again with some quick passing allowing a run through to go one on one with Whitaker but again she stood strong and got a strong hand to the shot on goal and then managed to reclaim the ball. Amazons got another goal when the ball was played down the right and then into the centre forward who took a good touch which took the ball away from the defender and the striker hit it low to put it past the keeper.

Just after the hour mark there was another, this time from the left when the ball was worked wide and it could not be cleared with the ball being taken to the byline and then pulled across to be met by the striker on the 5 yard line who finished low.

There was another chance on the 74th minute with another break through the middle and it took another fantastic reaction save from Whitaker to keep it out.

The final goal of the game came for the Amazons when a corner was played in to the near post and it was not dealt with and it was the striker to react first poking the ball home to inflict a hard defeat on Darlington.

It was in general a lacklustre performance from Darlington who expect higher standards of themselves and will be looking to bounce back in their next game looking to finish as strong as possible. Player of the match was awarded to Evie Whitaker who again made a number of fine saves following on from her recent great performances. Another bright note was the long awaited return of club captain Toni Upton which should add a boost towards the end of the season as the injury list continues to grow with Emma Carter having to come off during the game.