Darlington this week started with a higher intensity from the off, putting pressure on Leam straight from kick off, trying to get high up the field on what was a poor pitch to play football on. Darlingtons intensity paid off when the ball was played down the left hand side and it made its way to Katie Sheridan who cut inside dribbling across the box before laying the ball off to Aimee Dagnall who unleashed a fierce drive direct at goal, giving the keeper no chance to save and putting Darlington 1-0 up after 4 minutes.

Two minutes later Darlington had another chance with the ball played from Gabi Paduriaru at right back up to Hattie Raine who battled hard for the ball and managed to play it to Sheridan who broke free in the middle but put the ball just wide of the right hand post. After 11 minutes Darlington were 2-0 up. This time from a set piece which was delivered into the middle of the box for Alice Wearmouth to power through the crowd to crash home an improvised finish with her knee.

After the second goal the game became more scrappy with some rough tackles and needless free kicks being awarded which stunted Darlingtons chance of any fluid play. Leam did put a few testing balls through the middle but the defensive line held well and and Martina Cuccunato made a number of strong calls when commanding her box.

The best chance for Leam in the first half was another ball through the middle but Cuccunato came out bravely to smother the attack and block the shot. This meant Darlington could go into half time with a deserved two goal lead.

The second half started as the first ended with both teams fairly even battling for the ball in the centre of the park with Toni Upton leading by example winning tackles and headers to regain possession for Darlington. The first good chance in the second half for Darlington came after 71 minutes, when the ball was put through the middle for Raine to latch on to and she got a touch around the keeper but her narrow angled shot was well blocked by the sliding defender.

Leam had a good opportunity when they were awarded a free kick about 25 yards from goal. It was struck well into the corner but it was pushed away for a corner by Cuccunato. From the resulting corner the ball was whipped in and eluded many and was prodded forward by a Leam player and looked to be in, only for Cuccunato to produce a brilliant save clawing the ball from the line and pouncing back on it to deny Leam a goal back.

It was a nightmare moment only a minute later when Darlington were dispossessed just outside their own box and from the resulting desperation slide tackle which took out the Leam forward, the referee awarded a penalty. It was duly despatched in the bottom right corner to get Leam back into the game on 80 minutes leaving them plenty off time to press for an equaliser.

Darlington continued to battle and remained resolute in defence with Alice Wearmouth and Lily Large marshalling the centre of defence well and there was little joy on the wings with Emma Carter and substitute Millie Garnett denying any opportunities for balls to be played into the box.

As the game reached injury time Cuccunato released quickly and as the ball went out wide to Dagnall she hit a wonderfully weighted pass on the half turn to Hattie Raine who used her pace to beat the keeper to the ball and from a long way out lifted the ball high over the keeper, it took an age to come down but when it did, it was judged to perfection as it bounced just inside the post into the top corner to end the scoring and give Darlington the 3-1 win.

There were a number of good performances today, but player of the match went to Alice Wearmouth (kit sponsored by Direct Flooring) who has been working and improving her leadership skills week on week. Showing it again today with a dominating showing in the middle of defence, making more assured decisions when dealing with dangerous balls benefiting those around her and communicating with the rest of the defence. 

Darlington will hope to use this result as a springboard to push on in the cup and hit some form in the remaining 5 league games.

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: Whittaker, Peart, Tinkler, Frew, Garnett, Whitworth & Baldwin

Goalscorers:

0-1 Darlington - A. Dagnall 4’

0-2 Darlington - A.Wearmouth 10’

1-2 Leam - C.Murphy 78’

1-3 Darlington - H.Raine 90’