Quakers recorded their biggest ever win when they thumped Bishop Auckland 15-0 at Eastbourne on Sunday afternoon.

Aimee Dagnall led the way with four of the goals, with Lana Williams (2), Chloe Bright (2), Lily Wilkinson, Chloe Ryan, Ava Pearson, Ella Leach, Grace Dobson, Grace Taylor and Izzy Walker all getting on the scoresheet.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “I’m absolutely delighted for the girls, we’ve worked really hard over the last few weeks in training to put things right and I feel we have been a tad unlucky not to pick up any points in recent weeks.

“We put in a great performance last week against Cestria and we really deserved something from that game, particularly in the second half. We took confidence from that game and picked up where we left off. We knew we could not be complacent against Bishop and the players certainly had a point to prove.

“We really set the tone from the first whistle and were straight on the attack, creating a couple of opportunities in the first minute! Aimee Dagnall’s goal in the 4th minute gave us the momentum to go on and score more and we played some fantastic football today. Some great individual efforts, some great team goals and overall a really good squad performance.

“I am over the moon for Lana Williams and Ava Pearson to both get their first goals for the club, having come close many times over the past year or so! Also really happy for Izzy Walker to get on the scoresheet in her home debut, she’s done well since coming in. Hannah Billingham getting her third clean sheet of the season is also an added bonus and we were determined to not concede today and not get complacent once we had a decent lead in the game.”

The Quaker Women were straight on the front foot and it only took 4 minutes for them to get the lead. Nicole Graham played a central ball inside to Aimee Dagnall, who took one touch out of her feet and hit a screamer in the top right hand corner, giving the keeper no chance and Darlington a 1-0 lead. 

On the 10th minute mark, it was Lana Williams turn to score from distance. Another fantastic strike and what a way to score your first goal for the club, the strike was too powerful for the Bishop keeper and went straight over her head. Just a couple of minutes later and Darlington had a third. Some good build up play, saw Chloe Ryan loft a ball from the left hand side to the head of Chloe Bright who headed the ball back across the goalkeeper and it bounced into the net for 3-0.

Captain Dags was at it again just before the half hour mark. Chloe Bright turning from goalscorer to provider, with an assist of the heel which fell into Dagnall’s path and she struck from distance again, scoring from around 24 yards out for her second of the game. On the 28th minute, Lana Williams had to replaced as a precaution with Ella Leach coming on. 

A couple of minutes later, Darlo were awarded a free kick and Leanne Clennett put in a great ball which caused some confusion and was heading straight in before Chloe Bright made sure of it with a header over the line to get her second of the game. Clennett was at it again just before half time, with a great delivery from a corner for Aimee Dagnall to meet at the back post with another header and to seal her first half hat-trick. 

An injury to the Bishop goalkeeper, meant 9 added minutes in the first half. Darlington got their 7th goal in the 45th+5th minute which was arguably the best team goal of the day. Aimee Dagnall found herself mopping up a long ball in her own box that she dealt with well, before picking out Chloe Ryan on the right hand side. Ryan delightfully flicked it on to the run of Bright, who played in Ella Leach who was through 1v1 with the substitute keeper. A good save fell to Lily Wilkinson who had matched Ella’s run and reacted first to tap home for 7-0 and her 6th goal of the season. 

There were no changes at half time and it didn’t take long for Darlington to pick up where they left off. Some good football from Clennett and Dagnall with a quick one two on the right hand side, saw Dagnall find Ryan in the box, who with some good tricky feet, created some space for herself and the left foot strike was too much for the keeper to make it 8-0. 

It was soon 9 and another good delivery from a corner from Leanne Clennett saw Chloe Ryan flick it on at the near post, Bishop could not deal with it and Ava Pearson nipped in to poke home her first goal for the club! The 10th goal and Dagnall’s 4th of the game, came just a minute later. Another good assist from Chloe Bright, saw Dagnall take a good touch and finish well for double digits. 

Just before the hour mark, Ella Leach was finally on the scoresheet after coming so close numerous times. An excellent run from Wilkinson on the left hand side, saw her pick out Leach with a ball across the box and put it on a plate for Leach to score her 8th goal of the season and continue her great goalscoring form this season. 

The 60th minute, saw 6 substitutions and a change of shape for the Quaker Women. Dagnall, Graham, Bright, Ryan, Hodgson and Wilkinson all making way for E.Taylor, Scott, G.Taylor, Ryder, Ryder-Ingledew and Walker coming on for the last half hour. The substitutes settled into the game and it wasn’t too long before another goal was added. Vikki Ryder played a lovely through ball for Grace Dobson to run onto and smash into the bottom corner for 12-0. 

In the 74th minute, it was another first goal for the club. With Izzy Walker getting on the scoresheet on her home debut. A good ball forward from Clennett, was initially touched on by Walker to Leach who ran through with just the keeper to beat. Both Leach and the goalkeeper collided and the ball fell to Walker who tapped home for 13-0.

The last 2 goals came in the last 5 minutes of the game. Grace Taylor getting her second of the season. Some great work by Ryder-Ingledew cutting inside from the right and it fell nicely for Taylor to curl into the top corner from around 20 yards out for 14.

The last goal of the day came in the 87th minute. Lana Williams with her second of the game. A goal direct from a corner, a lovely curling effort from the left hand side that went in the bottom right hand corner. 

An unbelievable performance from start to finish and it will go down as the biggest competitive Darlington F.C Women win in their short 5 year history. 15 goals scored and 0 conceded. 

Player of the match was chosen by our match sponsor SR Entertainments and was awarded to our number 8, Aimee Dagnall. Aimee set the tone for the game with a wonder strike into the top right hand corner in the 4th minute. Followed up with a further 3 goals and a couple of assists. 

Thanks to everyone who came along to support today, we appreciate your support. Thanks to Bishop Auckland Ladies F.C for the game. We wish both goalkeepers a speedy recovery and good luck for the rest of the season.