Darlington Women are still joint top of the Durham County FA Women’s League after a good 5-3 home win over Birtley.

Goals from Chloe Ryan (2), Emily Taylor, Aimee Dagnall and Hattie Raine gave Quakers three important points to keep them level at the top of the table with Chester-le-Street Amazons.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “Today was another good performance and a big three points. It’s sometimes difficult to get going after a break and it’s been a month since our last game. The Christmas break extended to four weeks with our postponed game last weekend, so it was pleasing to get back on the pitch and back to winning ways.

“It wasn’t our best performance in terms of free flowing football, but I thought we controlled the game and always felt confident we would have enough to see the game out. We got off to a perfect start with an early goal from Emily Taylor and that settled us down and gave us a bit of confidence. Birtley got back in it with a well taken penalty but once we went ahead again, we were always ahead in the game and some fantastic team goals capped off a good team performance in the end.

“It’s an important win but we have got to back it up next week against Gateshead Rutherford with another three points to keep the pressure on those teams around us at the top of the table. It would be great to have your support again next week in another big fixture.” 

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett

Darlington began 2024 with a home game against Birtley and looking to avenge the heavy defeat they suffered before the winter break against a strong Birtley side. 

Darlington started with a bang as they were ahead after 3 minutes with the ball played down the right hand side to Chloe Ryan who used her pace to drive the ball forward and to pull it across the box where it was met by Emily Taylor who was calm and clinical diverting the ball past the keeper into the side netting.

Darlington continued to press and got another opportunity with an ever ball from Hattie Raine into Ryan on the edge of the box but it was put just wide.

Darlington were dominant but were caught out when a direct ball was played up top and the gap between the goalkeeper and defence allowed the Birtley striker to get a good run on it but the onrushing keeper came out and couldn’t quite claim it, Whitaker clipped the attacker and Birtley were awarded a penalty. The penalty was duly despatched low and hard to make the scores even at 1-1.

After 23 minutes Aimee Dagnall picked the ball up in the centre of the park and played a sublime outside of the foot pass through the defence into the path of Ryan who was one on one against the keeper and slotted the ball in to put Darlington 2-1 up.

Darlington continued to create chances with Sara Waites lifting the ball over the head of a defender and lobbing the ball over the bar and Dagnall heading wide from a corner.

On 38 minutes it was Ryan again who played a ball for Raine to chase and she tried to take it round the keeper who made a good block but the ball came out and Raine reacted first, finishing smart with her left foot. 

Just before the half Birtley pulled another goal back, a free kick was played into the box from just inside half way and it wasn’t dealt with and the ball dropped to the Birtley attacker who smashed the ball into the roof of the net for her second of the game.

From the beginning of the second half Darlington continued to press and put the pressure on with efforts from Waites and Raine coming close.

On the hour mark good pressing work from Lou Brown won the ball and it was taken by Raine who slid the ball into Ryan who finished it low past the keeper for a brace and her 19th goal of the season in all competitions. Eight minutes later it was five when a Hattie Raine corner was played into the front post to be headed over the keeper across goal into the top corner by Aimee Dagnall.

Late on Birtley got another goal out of the blue when they won the ball high and got a shot away which was saved and pushed away by Evie Whitaker but an oncoming Birtley player got to it first and fired it back in to the goal. Darlington held their nerve and managed the game out to secure their first win of the year in their first game of the year. 

It was a strong performance with some very good play in the final third which will need to be continued in the upcoming games.

A number of strong performances throughout the team with some good goals and assists throughout. Player of the match was awarded to Nicole Graham for an assured display in the centre of the park breaking up the play and setting up attacks throughout.

Here's the league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html?league=901345664&selectedSeason=516237003&selectedDivision=371387182&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_263994711

Thanks to our kit sponsors:

We'd like to thank the following kit sponsors:

Evie Whittaker: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Vacant 

Emma Carter:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: Vacant

Sophie McNally:

Home: Vacant  

Away: Vacant

Lou Brown:

Home: Saddington Taylor LTD

Away: vacant

Millie Garnett:

Home: Eco Hair Salon

Away: Phil's Fine Finishes

Lily Large:

Home: The Unknown Creative

Away: Lineside Fencing

Millie Soderman: 

Home: Corporate Personal Well Being 

Away: Kia

Chloe Tinkler: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Brinkburn Pub

Chloe Bright: 

Home: Jordan Hanratty Personal Training 

Away: SR Entertainments 

Toni Upton

Home: Dawn Fire Safety 

Away: Dawn Fire Safety  

Emily Taylor 

Home: Northern Renewables 

Away: Northern Renewables 

Aimee Dagnall 

Home: Durham Blinds

Away: Andrew Scullion

Hattie Raine: 

Home: CNA Electronics

Away: CNA Electronics 

Katie Sheridan: 

Home: Darl Knight

Away: Vacant 

Lacey Baldwin: 

Home: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Away: Vacant 

Chloe Ryan: 

Home: Sign Lead

Away: vacant

Sara Waites: 

Home: Teesside University 

Away: Teesside University  

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Leanne Clennett:

Home: Stockton Town Rugby Club

Away: Stockton Town Rugby Club 

Lucy Hart:

Home: Top Spec Boots

Away: D&G Trophies 

Lily Wilkinson:

Home: The Tuns at Sadberge 

Away: The Tuns at Sadberge 

Lucy Charlton

Home and away vacant

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Stu Burkin training kit:Vacant 

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant