Darlington Women have scored 16 goals in their first two league matches after beating Newton Aycliffe 6-1 on Sunday.

There were six different scorers for Quakers, one of them new signing Vikki Ryder on her debut.

Manager Shaun Mackenzie said; “All that mattered today were the three points and we came away with them so happy days. We knew from the off that it wouldn’t be the best of games or performances with the conditions. The wind was always going to play its part in the game this weekend and the surface wasn’t the best, but we dealt with it and still got the result.

“It was a really frustrating first 30 minutes but we knew at the start of the game that we would need to be patient and eventually the goals came. The introduction of Grace Dobson changed the game and Aycliffe struggled to cope with her. She made an instant impact on the left hand side and her directness give us something different and she was involved in most things we did well from coming on. Chloe Ryan got us that first goal we needed and then we were 3-0 up within the next five minutes. Six different goalscorers and it’s great that we’ve got goals coming from all over the pitch.

“I was disappointed to concede so early in the second half but well done to the players for reacting well and killing the game off. A fourth goal was needed when they got one back and the girls kept pushing forward playing against the wind and got another three goals. It was nice to see Vikki mark her debut with a goal, a great finish as well! Her and Bailey have settled into the squad well and we look forward to now having them both available for selection going forward.”

It was a scrappy first 20 minutes with neither team able to get into any rhythm. The windy conditions playing their part. However, Darlington settled down and were looking the more threatening team to get the opener. 

A couple of early substitutions in the first half, saw Grace Dobson introduced which changed the shape and then Lana Williams came on for the injured Emma Carter. Lana’s first involvement just after the half hour mark was a long throw in, which Chloe Ryan reacted first to and hit a decent shot that the goalkeeper could not keep hold of. 1-0 Darlo and the breakthrough they needed. 

A second goal soon followed with a great delivery from Hattie Raine from a corner, which an unmarked Aimee Dagnall headed home at the back post for 2-0. Three minutes later and it was three goals in ive minutes. Some good work from Dobson down the left hand side, saw a great delivery across the box which Lily Wilkinson turned in to net her fourth goal of the season. 

Darlington took a 3-0 lead into the break and were against the wind in the second half. The three goal lead was short lived and Aycliffe got one back in the first minute of the second half with a good finish from the left hand side. It took Darlington till the hour mark to regain their three goal advantage, with a good through ball from Hattie Raine for Nicole Graham to finish at the back post and score her third goal of the season. 

15 minutes later and it was five. Some great work again down the left hand side from Grace Dobson saw her pick out new signing Vikki Ryder who smashed it into the net first time to score on her debut for the Quaker Women. A great finish to announce her arrival. A sixth goal was added with ten minutes to go. Hattie Raine with a hat-trick of assists, fed the ball through to Grace Dobson who finished from a tight angle over the keeper’s head. 

Player of the match was awarded to first half substitute Grace Dobson, who came on and changed the game, providing two assists and scoring her first league goal of the season and 2nd goal in all competitions this season.

Many thanks for those who braved the weather today and came down to support. We appreciate your support.

Many thanks to Newton Aycliffe Women F.C for the game. Good luck for the rest of the season and see you in the return fixture at Eastbourne.