Here's the match report from Chris Barrett

This week was another tough clash at home against Birtley who are also pushing high in the league and would prove to be much better than in the team's previous meeting when Quakers won comfortably.

From kick off, Birtley hunted down the ball with vigour and showed the intent of what they had come for. The defence was put under pressure early and the ball was played into the corner which was pressed and won back by Birtley who managed to break into the box, the initial effort was blocked but the ball was retrieved and played across the box into the middle to a free Birtley player to finish low and have Darlington down after 1 minute.

Darlington remained under pressure and struggled to get into the game but after 7 minutes managed to get hold of the ball and the ball was played through the middle to Hattie Raine who turned the ball round with the outside of her foot into the path of Katie Sheridan who drove away from the defence and one v one slid the ball past the keeper to equalise.

Darlington should have settled the game down but were lacking intensity and were down again two minutes later when a ball was played down the Birtley left and the ball was once again pulled across the box to a free Birtley player who struck with keeper Ellen Atkinson again having no chance.

After 19 minutes, Birtley had the ball down their right this time and it was whipped across and volleyed low from 12 yards but it was smartly saved by Atkinson who kept hold of it well. Darlington managed to get up the other end to fashion a chance as the ball was played up the right and then inside to Emma Doudican who set the ball and shot but it was just over the bar. Birtley reacted quickly and broke down the other end with the attacker getting free and it took a superbly timed block from Lily Large to stop a clear effort on goal.

Birtley continued the pressure and another great save was required from Atkinson to ensure that no more goals were scored prior to the break.

Darlington needed a much better second half and they started brightly and got an early reward when the ball was switched from left to right getting to Aimee Dagnall on the edge of the box and after initially being blocked, managed to find some room to unleash a fierce strike across goal and into the bottom corner to bring the game level at 2-2.

Darlington needed to press on but still lacked enough desire and Birtley pushed again and went close attacking down the right, getting the ball to the front post but putting it just wide. On the hour mark a Darlington goal kick was won by a Birtley head in the middle and it went straight through to the Birtley attacker who got in down the middle and had space to place it past the keeper to retake the lead.

On 69 minutes Darlington attacked down the right with Raine looking to get the ball into the box and when playing it in, it swung and crashed off the bar and back out.

Darlington looked to be back in it after 71 minutes when the ball was played out to Doudican who took the ball in the box on the left hand side and put the ball away but it was harshly adjudged to be offside.

Birtley got another chance of their own again attacking down the right hand side with the Birtley attacker getting free in the middle but she blazed the ball over the bar. On 76 minutes, the ball was played dow the Darlington right into Chloe Bright who settled the ball and whipped it into the near post for Hattie Raine to meet it and volley the ball crashing it in of the underside of the bar making it 3 all.

The last quarter of the game was a tense affair with neither team really playing with any fluidity and it was last gasp heartbreak for Darlington when the ball was worked up the right hand side and Birtley getting a good shot on goal to be palmed away by Atkinson, but the follow up was met first by a Birtley player who bundled it home. Darlington came close to an equaliser with a late chance from Hattie Raine, but it just wasn’t their day.

This was an opportunity missed to push on from last weeks result against a good Birtley side and if Darlington are to get their promotion push back on track, they will need to find the desire to battle for important points which are going to be vital towards the end of the season.

Player of the match was Aimee Dagnall (kit sponsored by Andrew Scullion) who scored a terrific goal and tried her best to drag the team into the match when strong leadership was required.

STARTING XI

12: Atkinson,

19: Large, 

5: Wearmouth, 

14: Tinkler, 

18: Padurariu, 

3: Carter,

16: Dagnall (c),

8: Doudican,

4: Whitworth

20: Sheridan, 

9: Raine,

Substitutes: Peart, Bright, Frew, Garnett & Upton

Full Time Result: 

Darlington FC Women 3-4 Birtley Town Ladies 

Goal Birtley - 1’

Goal Darlington - Sheridan 6’

Goal Birtley - 8’

Goal Darlington - Dagnall 47’

Goal Birtley - 58’

Goal Darlington - Raine 76’

Goal Birtley - 86’

Here's the league table as it stands: