Hartlepool United Women 4 Darlington Women 4

Darlington Women continued their pre season build up with a 4-4 draw at Hartlepool United on Sunday.

It was another very good performance by Quakers against a team from a higher league as they build up for the new season, and manager Shaun MacKenzie said; "I am really pleased with the performance against a decent Hartlepool side, we knew it would be a good test and it was a good game of football with both sides trying to play.

"I thought we started the game really well and we created loads of opportunities. It was good to see Hattie Raine back on the scoresheet after missing last weekend's game away on holiday, she was on it in training on Thursday and brought that in to today’s game, no keeper was stopping that second goal.

"We made eight changes at half time and it was always going to be a struggle to adapt straight away, with changing shape as well. But once settled in, I thought the team in the second half also played well in spells and were brilliant for the last 15 minutes. It was good to see Chloe Ryan get 45 minutes under her belt and it was her hard work that led to the equaliser. It was also pleasing to see Lou Smith settling in the team well and a massive well done to Ellen Atkinson for some fantastic saves.

"A few silly mistakes and a couple of goals gifted, but we will learn from them, overall I’m really happy with the performance and plenty of positives to take. A well deserved weekend off next week as we continue to prepare for the season starting in September."

Match report from Chris Barrett

Darlington started strong and got an early strike away with Sophie Curle using her strength to win the ball and fire just over from outside the box. Darlington then took the lead after 9 minutes with Emma Doudican getting the ball to Curle on the left of the box and shooting across goal with a slight deflection taking the ball past the keeper.

Hartlepool’s response was immediate and caught Darlington unaware with a quick break with direct play through the middle and finishing low past the keeper. Hartlepool were in again after 18 minutes and it took a smart save from Martina Cuccunato to keep them at bay.

A minute later Darlington were ahead again with arguably the goal of the match with the ball starting from the back with Alice Wearmouth playing it out to Emma Doudican to drive the ball up the left who cut back and layed it back to Lacey Baldwin, who then clipped a deft ball over the defender into the path of Hattie Raine who set herself and fired the ball home off the underside of the bar.

It was again only a short time again before Hartlepool were level, when Darlington conceded a corner which was swung to the back post which evaded the defence and the Hartlepool captain snuck in at the back post to volley home the equaliser.

Just after the half hour mark, Darlington were ahead again when an underhit back pass was cut out by Hattie Raine who nipped in to steal it and dribbled it around the keeper and finished calmly with her left foot.

On 39 minutes, Hartlepool were through from another counter attack and it took a last ditch interception from Wearmouth to stop another strike at goal. It wasn’t long after that Darlington were caught on the counter again with a 2 v 1 but the ball was held up and as it was it dropped out to a Hartlepool player who struck from far out and it looped high over the keeper to give Hartlepool another equaliser.

Darlington made eight changes at half time with only three players retaining their place from the start. The second half started fairly even but it was Hartlepool who took the lead after it was stolen in the middle of the park and a quick ball through left the attacker 1v1 with Ellen Atkinson who had no chance.

After the changes Darlington settled and again began to dominate the ball more and the managed to create chances for Sophie Curle and Nicole Graham but couldn’t get the equaliser. It took a strong 10 minutes from Ellen Atkinson to keep Darlington in the game with a strong punch required from a ball crossed into the box. On 73 minutes the ball was again in the Darlington box, when the Hartlepool attacker received the ball in space and fired towards goal, a brilliant reaction save from Atkinson kept it out.

Again on 80 minutes it was another super save from Atkinson to keep the ball out and she was required quickly again to gather the follow up effort.

Darlington went on to create more chances in the last 10 minutes and were pushing for the equaliser with efforts just off target from Curle and Raine.

With the clock running out Darlington were still trying to create but it looked like it wouldn’t happen. On 88 minutes the ball was played through again with the ball played into the box and Curle looked destined to score but it hit the underside of the bar and back out. The follow up was then sliced by Raine and the ball again fell to Curle who this time managed to bundle the ball home for the equaliser.

It was an encouraging performance from Darlington against strong opposition with plenty of players getting minutes under their belt. Player of the match went to Ellen Atkinson for two outstanding saves but their were strong performances all over the pitch, particularly from Captain Toni Upton and a great second half showing from new signing Lou Brown who fit seamlessly into the back line reading the game well.

The next game is a friendly at home to Northallerton on 7th August.

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