The game as expected started tentatively with both sides battling for the ball in the middle of the park with Darlington women looking the more dominant in retaining possession of the ball but not creating any threatening opportunities. A number of free kicks for multiple hand balls did provide opportunity for a threat at goal but none could be sufficiently utilised to test the keeper.

The first good opportunity looked like it could be created after the 21st minute but play was called back due to a head injury for Katie Sheridan when Darlington were just about to get the ball into the 6 yard box. Another opportunity came 5 minutes later when Aimee Dagnall created some space in the centre outside the box for a strike but it was an easy claim for the keeper.

After 33 minutes Spraire won a corner , the centre of the box was crowded but the ball was dropped in at the back post when an unmarked Spraire player had time to volley from close range and put the away team ahead. After this, the game returned to a tight battle for possession but again both teams lacked a cutting edge to create chances and the half ended with Spraire ahead.

The second half was expected to be very similar to the first and it took 5 minutes before Darlington got an opportunity. There was some good play between Dagnall and Emma Doudican to set up Hattie Raine on the edge of the box but she fired just over the bar.

Spraire looked to be in on goal when they broke through the middle on 59 minutes and it took a sliding tackle from Alice Wearmouth who looked to have won the ball but was given as a foul to stop the attack but cover was given by Lily Large meaning no card was necessary. The resulting free kick was struck just wide from Spraire with a good effort.

Darlington tried to create a chance on the counter but just as Lacey Baldwin was breaking away she was hacked down, resulting in a yellow card. After 73 minutes Darlington were two down when a defensive lapse meant Spraire striker Thorns was able to cut out the ball and drive towards goal with the defence unable to catch up and she fired the ball in from the left hand side at the near post.

Spraire were close to another on 80 minutes when the ball was put into the box and turned towards goal which required it to be clawed out by Martina Cuccunato.

A minute later Darlington had a free kick just outside the box which was struck by Raine but again was just over the bar.

Darlington finished with a couple of late chances, the best of which was a corner headed just wide but no goal was forthcoming and the game finished 2-0 to the away team and Darlington exiting the league Cup.

Darlington will be back in league action next week against top of the table Hartlepool Pools Youth.

Player of the match again went to Alice Wearmouth (kit sponsored by Direct Flooring) who cut out the high balls well and had a good anticipation of play.

STARTING XI

1: Cuccunato,

17: Padurariu, 

19: Large, 

5: Wearmouth, 

3: Carter, 

10: Upton (c), 

8: Doudican, 

16: Dagnall, 

11: Bright,

20: Sheridan, 

9: Raine,

Substitutes: Atkinson, Peart, Tinkler, Frew, Garnett, Whitworth & Baldwin