Quakers returned to top form with a comfortable 6-0 home win over Horden on Sunday.

After a frustrating start to the game, Chloe Ryan broke through for the opening goal, with Lou Brown, Hattie Raine (2), Lily Wilkinson and Chloe Tinkler adding the others.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It was a very good team performance; we were at it from the first whistle and played some lovely football. We kept probing and probing and created plenty of chances in the first half but the Horden keeper had a great game and was saving everything. I was beginning to think it was another one of those days. But we stayed patient and it was only a matter of time. “Krista Williams, who was outstanding today, found Chloe Ryan and I would always back Chloe in a 1v1. A great goal and definitely a lead we deserved.

“After that the confidence grew and we kept the ball well. It just goes to show how important the first goal is in the game. A first goal for our skipper Lou Brown and what a finish it was as well. Very pleased today that we had five different goalscorers and the way we moved the ball around.

“I was very happy with the clean sheet today as well, our third of the season and we will continue to aim for more. It was also a memorable moment for me to hand Grace Dobson her debut today, I still remember her first session, rocking up in a Sunderland kit! She did really well when she came on and put some great crosses into the box. Overall a good day at the office.”

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett 

After last week’s disappointing away trip to Gateshead Leam, Darlington were back at home and looking to get back to winning ways against Horden CW. 

It was a lower key start from Darlington than had been in recent games with Darlington trying to get on the ball and create chances. They did well with efforts from Chloe Ryan and Katie Bragg coming close but the Horden keeper was in fine form making a number of great saves to keep Darlington out. 

There was a good attack on the left-hand side, with Darlington playing out from Hannah Billingham with Chloe Bright and Aimee Dagnall linking up which led to a good chance for Krista Williams when Hattie Raine put it across the box, but the resulting shot was just wide. However, it was Williams who was the one to provide the assist for the breakthrough goal on 35 minutes with the ball played into Chloe Ryan into the left of the box and she calmly put the ball past the keeper putting Darlington ahead. 

Just before the half time break Darlington doubled the lead when a deep corner from Hattie Raine was taken down by Lou Brown and she produced a nuanced finish of a striker smashing it back across goal and into the side netting for her first goal for the club. 

The second half was a much brighter start for Darlington with Raine turning from provider to scorer as she dispossessed the centre back from the kick off and made no mistake when faced by the keeper slotting it low into the bottom right corner to further add to her tally for the season. Buoyed from the confidence of the goal Raine came close again with a long range strike that just flew past the top corner of the goal. 

Just after the hour mark Darlington scored again with some good build up play down the right-hand side and playing the ball into the box for Chloe Bright to bravely compete for the low cross and the ball dropped on the edge of the box centrally for Lily Wilkinson to make no mistake in striking the ball into the top right corner of the goal.

Darlington were relentless in their play and continued with their attacks and it paid off when it was Bright again who broke into the box and was upended without the ball being won and Darlington were awarded a penalty. With regular taker Chloe Ryan being substituted by this point, it was up to Raine to take responsibility and she did by duly dispatching the shot low to the left giving the keeper absolutely no chance of saving it.

There was time for one more goal just before the full time whistle coming from another corner, with the ball again played deep to the back of the box where it was met by Chloe Tinkler who expertly headed the ball back across goal and it went in off the left hand post to finish the scoring and give Darlington a morale boosting 6-0 victory.

It was a much-improved showing with a solid performance from the back line keeping a clean sheet and some good attacks from Chloe Bright in the unfamiliar left back role who adapted superbly. There were also a number of quality goals but player of the match was awarded to Krista Williams for some excellent ball retention and also a number of key incisive runs breaking through the lines in the middle of the park, opening up the pitch to create the chances.

Darlington have no game scheduled this coming Sunday and will be back at home the following weekend, as they welcome Gateshead Rutherford to Eastbourne on Sunday 15th December.