Darlington Women enjoyed an emphatic 9-0 win against Newton Aycliffe to maintain their hopes of a top three place.

Quakers were 5-0 up at half time, and stayed well in control in the second half.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “I’m really happy with today’s result, another three points on the board and that’s five wins in a row in the league. Aycliffe came to sit in and defend and it’s exactly what we expected of them. We knew that we would need to be patient and not force the play and we played some nice football in spells. I thought we stepped it up a level after half time and started to play a bit more football. We had the wind in the first half and it didn’t necessarily help us as the final ball kept going too far.

“Overall, we scored some very good goals and it’s great that we have so many players on the scoresheet this season. The goals really have been spread around and we could end up with six players on double figures come the end of the season. It’s not all about scoring goals though and you have to be switched on at the other end. Although they didn’t have much to do today, I thought the back four were excellent in building the play and defended well when they were called upon. Really pleased to give Bea her league debut and it’s two clean sheets out of two for her, after our 4-0 win in the Cup against Spennymoor. I was equally as pleased with the clean sheet as I was with the nine goals scored and that’s our 7th clean sheet of the season in all competitions.’ 

“We have to just take one game at a time with 5 games left to go and next week we welcome Leam Rangers who are top of the table and yet to lose in the league this season. The reverse fixture was a close game which we lost 1-0 and the girls will certainly be up for the challenge. Hopefully we can welcome a couple of girls back into the squad from injury’

It was Vikki Ryder that opened the scoring on the 4th minute. The ball fell nicely to her on the edge of the box and she placed it well in the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

It took Darlington another 15 minutes to break down an Aycliffe low block for their 2nd goal. Some good work on the right hand side, saw Chloe Ryan have a shot saved by the Aycliffe keeper, but Wilkinson was first to react to tap home for her first of the game. 8 minutes later and Ryan was on the scoresheet herself. Some good football from Darlington led to Dobson picking out Ryan to make it 3-0. 

Two more goals came just before half time to make it 5-0 at the break. The 4th a great finish from Dobson across the keeper after Ryan turned provider and fed her a lovely through ball. The 5th was Lily Wilkinsons 12th goal of the season and her second for the day. Some excellent footwork in the box, created a chance out of nothing and put the Quaker Women 5-0 up. 

The second half saw Darlington continue to dominate the game and it was in the first minute when they had their 6th goal of the day. A great delivery from a Lana Williams corner was met by the head of Leanne Clennett in the six yard box for just Clennett’s second ever goal for the club. 10 minutes later and half time substitute Izzy Walker was on the scoresheet to make it 7. Dobson beat the keeper and the ball bounced back off the post, but Walker was first to react to tap home the rebound. 

Dobson wasn’t finished for the day and another great finish from a tight angle saw her score her 9th goal of the season, Ryan the provider again. The final goal of the game came in the 83rd minute. Some good work from Vikki Ryder with the assist, and a great strike from Chloe Ryan, straight over the keeper’s head to make it double figures for the season (her 10th goal in all competitions) and overall 80th goal for the club! 

Aycliffe had a player sent off in the final 5 minutes, with a reckless challenge on Wilkinson, the referee rightly giving the Aycliffe centre half her marching orders. We wish the Aycliffe player who went off injured, a speedy recovery. Good luck for the rest of the season. 

Player of the match was awarded to Grace Dobson. A constant threat on the left hand side, 2 goals and 2 assists and if it wasn’t for the post, she would have had her hat-trick. 

Thanks for all your support today. It was great to see some of the younger generation as mascots. See you all again next week when we are back at home against league leaders, Leam Rangers.

Here's the league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=65571865&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=1&selectedDivision=371387182&selectedCompetition=0

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