Darlington Women weren't at their best, but they still defeated Horden 2-0 at Eastbourne on Sunday.

Goals from Lacey Baldwin and Katie Sheridan gave Quakers the points, and even though they didn't score more goals, they were pleased with a clean sheet.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “I was pleased to get the three points today, we weren’t at our best but we’ve got the job done. A sign of a good team is to win when you’re not playing at your best and we’ve done that today.

“We still created chances, but we need to be more clinical in the final third. I’m happy with another clean sheet and the defensive performance and that’s now three wins in a row, so it’s a good start to the season, only conceding one goal.

“We will have to up our game next week when we welcome Blyth Town from a couple of leagues above in the FA Cup but I am sure the girls will step up to the challenge."

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett:

Darlington started steady with the ball being kept in the Horden half but the pace was slow and lacking the same intensity as the week before. Early efforts came from Hattie Raine who broke into the box on the right hand side but her shot was pulled just wide, and there was also an attempt from Nicole Graham who stooped to head in but it narrowly missed.

Darlington appeared to have an opportunity on the 11th minute when Chloe Ryan broke into the box and had her legs taken out without the ball but astonishingly no penalty was given. Another opportunity was created a couple of minutes later with the ball whipped in from the left for Ryan to flick on with her foot but it was well held by the keeper.

Darlington were leaving some gaps and on the quarter hour mark Horden broke through and Ellen Atkinson stood her ground and the shot on goal was put wide.

Darlington won a free kick on the edge of the box on the 21st minute and it was Raine who struck it well but it just whistled past the top corner of the goal. Not long after the ball was put into the box again with Ryan getting a head to it and it thudded off the bar and a scramble in the box ensued but it couldn’t be diverted home.

On 28 minutes, Darlington took the lead with a ball put into the box that wasn’t dealt with and Lacey Baldwin was lurking on the edge of the area to pick up the loose ball, set herself and shoot hard and low through the crowd into the bottom corner. There weren’t many more clear opportunities after the first goal and it was in the 40th minute when the ball was played through the middle to Raine who outpaced the defence but was met by the onrushing keeper who smothered the ball at her feet.

There were a couple of changes at half time and it was the energy of Katie Sheridan which appeared to make the biggest impact as she broke the lines whilst managing to retain the ball well. Just before the hour mark the ball was played down the left hand side and flicked on by Emma Doudican to Raine who burst into the middle to get a shot away but it was just wide of the post.

After the hour mark, Horden got another attack working down the right on the counter but the play was slowed well with good positioning by Alice Wearmouth and then the ball was magnificently cut out with a sliding tackle from Lou Brown.

On 69 minutes there was a sigh of relief when some good build up play from Raine and Sheridan through the centre of the pitch got the ball in the right area for Ryan to get a shot away, the keeper saved but the rebound was met by the follow up run of Sheridan who thundered it home to double the lead.

Darlington came close again not long after when the ball was played high into the Horden box and it was not dealt with well and it dropped to Graham who pinged it just off the outside of the post. Horden did not give up and continued to try and create openings but the defence was strong and any attacks were limited by the defence.

There were few clear chances to finish the game off and Darlington held on to claim the three points. It was by no means a vintage performance with a lack of intensity and aggression throughout but it is another clean sheet for the defence and although the performance wasn’t up to usual standards, the win shows progress from last season where points may have been dropped.

Darlington now have another FA Cup tie to look forward to and will be hoping to step up against higher league opposition Blyth Town Ladies at Eastbourne on Sunday. Player of the match was awarded to Lou Brown who was calm and composed from the outset and read the play superbly to sniff out any possible danger and helped build the attacks from the back.

Team: 

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: vacant 

Alice Wearmouth:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: Vacant 

Lou Brown:

Home: Saddington Taylor LTD

Away: vacant

Sarah Frew:

Home: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology)

Away: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology)

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