Darlington Under 13s 3 Billingham Synthonia Under 13s 2

Darlington Youth sponsored by Darlington Building Society, The Flintlock Inn & BTS Fabrications, were back in league cup action against Billingham Synthonia.

These two sides have played each other twice already this season. In October, Billingham took Darlington to extra time in the Durham FA County Cup, however it was the young Quakers who progressed into the next round with a 5-4 win, Corbyn Mitchell scoring all 5 goals.

Last weekend’s game was also a close encounter in the league. Billingham found themselves 2 goals up with 22 minutes left to play, but an own goal, as well as strikes from Corbyn Mitchell and Alex Mason helped Darlington to the win and put a stop to Billingham’s unbeaten home run.

This weekend was League Cup action and the hosts could have found themselves two goals up inside the first seven minutes. Top scorer Corbyn Mitchell fired inches wide after five minutes, then volleyed over the bar from 12 yards moments later.

Despite this early scare, Billingham began to get into their stride and scored the first goal with 20 minutes played. A direct free-kick from 20 yards managed to squirm past Bradley Morrison in the Darlington goal to give the visitors the lead.

Matthew Moody brought the game level four minutes later with a very well taken goal. Jack Browning played the ball out wide down the right hand side to Moody and after beating his man, the pacey winger cut inside before looping his shot over the head of the Billingham keeper and into the far corner of the net, for his fifth goal in the competition.

HT (35 Mins) 1-1

Just like the early stages of the first half, Darlington went close to taking the lead, this time the cross-bar saving the visitors after great individual play from Mitchell.

It was the visitors who took the lead in this League Cup tie and again it was the Billingham striker who scored it. Darlington failed to prevent a cross from the right and the Billingham front man fired in from seven yards.

This was far from Darlington’s best performance of the season but somehow, just like they did in the previous two encounters against Billingham, they managed to go on and win the game, despite losing captain Tom Horner to an injury with 60 minutes played.

The home side came close when Alex Mason headed a Liam Wynn corner inches over the bar, before Corbyn Mitchell did bring the game level with 52 minutes gone. Darlington right back Joe Hanson found Mitchell with a great ball over the Billingham defence and the Darlington forward showed great composure as he rounded the keeper and smashed the ball into an empty net for his 40^th goal of the season.

[caption id="attachment_15305" align="alignnone" width="214"] Corbyn Mitchell[/caption]

Darlington were awarded a corner in the first of five minutes of injury time to be played. Liam Wynn’s kick was taken with pace into a crowded penalty area and after coming off a Billingham defenders head, the ball flew into the net, much to the delight of the Darlington players and parents.

The final couple of minutes were nervy, but the young Quakers managed to hang on to the win and progress into the quarter finals of the TJFA League Cup.

Well done to all the lads involved, including the Billingham players.

Man of the Match was awarded to Thomas Hindmarch.