Double figure away win for super Under 12s!

NSG Athletic 0-12 Darlington Under 12s 12

Darlington again started brightly, straight from kick off they went on the attack and it led to Caden Beckett cutting in from the right hand side and setting up Taylor Waugh to neatly chip it over the keepers leg and tap it in to make it 1-0. From then on it was one way traffic from the onwards as Darlington had near enough 100% possession as they passed the ball around the pitch ease, even getting goalkeeper Thomas Youngs involved with a lot of passing and movement.

They soon made it 2-0 as Will Gatiss went for his routine run down the left hand side to get a low cross away for a late run from Alex Walton to put the ball away unmarked at the back post. After a few substitutions, Alex was again involved in the 3rd goal as he played a great 1-2 pass with sub Tyler Rowden for him to cut back for Charlie Drury to lay off Finlay Tulip to score, 3-0. The 4th and best goal of the game was scored by Will Gatiss, after a throw in was taken the excellent Alex, for Tyler to cheekily flick the ball round the corner for Charlie Drury to run onto and cut back for Will to bury into the bottom corner. Straight from kick off and right before half time they added a 5th, a nice through from Charlie to put Finlay through on the left hand side and he calmly slotted the ball home.

HT 5-0

Darlington again started well without really being tested by the opposition. They made it 6-0 after some great work from Will on the left hand side for him to lay off Charlie to shoot but the keeper making a good save but parrying straight into the path of Taylor Waugh to score the rebound. Some more great football by the lads continued as they started to create more chances and if it wasn't the opposition goalkeeper making a few good saves then it would have been more. Caden Beckett soon got another as again Charlie and Will played some great football and get the ball to Caden for him to cut in and score with his left foot for 7-0.

Caden the got his second of the game and Darlington's 8th when again Charlie Drury had a shot saved by the keeper but Caden was on hand to score the rebound. After a lot of possession being kept between the defence and midfield a great through balk from Taylor sent Finlay through and goal and neatly put the ball through the keeper’s legs and into the far corner to make it 9-0. Darlington scored again to make it 10-0, before Preston Gredziak got his goal that he has been waiting a while for as Taylor Waugh had his shot saved for Preston to smash into the top corner from 5 yards out, 11-0. Charlie Drury then scored his 5th of the season as Tyler Rowden made a sublime pass over the top for Charlie to run through on goal and put the ball away with the last kick of the game.

FT 12-0

Best performance of the season from the boys, they played some absolutely beautiful football for the full game.

After the game the referee came over and congratulated the players for a great performance before saying that we were the best footballing team that he has ever reffed, which is a brilliant compliment for the players, myself and Warren Newall

Match report by Johnny Kane

Team sponsored by Ace Flooring Solutions

Under 8s struggle against the wind

Darlington travelled away, hoping to get a win to get the confidence up within the group after a couple of defeats recently. The game started and Darlo tried passing and moving the ball around the pitch as best they can, however the windy conditions didn’t help at all with Darlo attacking into the wind first half, Darlington found themselves 3 - 0 down at one stage of the game with the wind really not helping.

The second half began with Darlo having the advantage of the wind Apo Bakan scored from a great combination of passing with Alfie and Jack working well with each other of the corner, Darlington were on top after this. We had a lot of the possession and some great attacking play, Jack Parry scored direct from a corner to get Darlington almost level, Ben Williams made some great saves in the second half to keep the momentum going within the group, Zac Reeve and Alfie Glancey were full of effort to keep everyone going.  Travis Harrison did well to create chances for his team mates around him, unfortunately it wasn’t Darlington’s day but Brad and Adam are happy with how the team passed the ball around and played today

Man of the match - Zac Reeve

Away team man of the match - Jack parry

Under 8 Feethams

The boys played in very windy conditions, against a very well organised team who applied the 5 second rule to get the ball back, zonal passing and who video their games for the boys to watch the games back.

We knew we were in for a tough game. The boys started the game playing against the wind but took a well deserved lead when Kai Martin slotted home after some great passage of play that saw the ball passed from defence, through midfield, then upto Kai!

Just before half time the windy conditions took its toll and our opponents equalised from a corner.

Half time the scores were level.

The second half saw a tactical change to steady the midfield and this allowed the boys to play some great football. They quickly raced to a 3-1 lead with Mason Theaker scoring and Kai Martin adding a third.

The visitors got themselves momentarily back in the game but the boys were too strong and fit and added a further four goals before the final whistle. Mason Theaker completing his hat trick and Kai Martin scoring a second half hat trick to take his tally to 4.

Man of the match Mason Theaker.

The work rate and team spirit from all the boys amazes Dave and me every match we play. Oscar, Alva, Jack, Riley, Harry, Joe, Mason and Kai are turning into a very good footballing team and a team that puts everything into it and works hard for each other.

Match report by Martin Williamson

Darlington Spraire Lads 6 Feethams Under 15s 5

The team made the short trip to the other side of town to take on Spraire Lads. In blustery conditions the hosts kicked off and made the perfect start, straight from the kick off down the right flank and a shot rifled in from a tight angle. The play from then see-sawed both teams having an equal share, the home side relying on three strong players. Ten minutes in and the scores were level, Ollie Johnson nicked the ball from the left back and found the net from the tightest of angles from just inside the box. Darlington then took the lead minutes later, Liam Wynn crossing in a lovely ball from the left which Ollie Johnson put home with great composure. The game continued going from one end to the other and five minutes before half time Spraire were level, the Darlington defence a little flat footed expecting the whistle to blow for offside leaving the forward to convert.

Kenzie Alton made a save high to his left that looked goal bound but was powerless to stop a bullet header beating him moments later from a right sided cross.

Soon the game had slipped even further towards the home team another attack down the right resulting in a fourth goal. Darlington had troubled the opposing defence throughout though and it was no great surprise when Liam Wynn hit his first goal of the season, a clinical left footed finish from the edge of the box. Still the home team asked questions though. Kieran Bowers and Alex Mason being kept busy in the middle while full backs Joe Hanson and Sandy Gardner (and later Euan Simpson) were tireless in their work rate. The equaliser came with Ollie Johnson hitting a superb finish over his shoulder to complete his hat trick.

The game again swung towards the division’s new boys when Liam Wynn again turned provider squaring for Ollie Johnson to sidefoot his fourth! It looked at this point as if Darlington would be taking the points, having looked the stronger team and playing great stuff in the second half of the match. Spraire still came forward though and stunned the lads with around fifteen minutes remaining, a short ball from the left passed forward to the attacker who to most looked to be standing five or six yards offside. He side footed the ball in to the unattended net and the referee pointed to the centre circle for the restart. Moments later disaster struck, a back pass to keeper Kenzie Alton who hit his clearance first time tamely to a opposing player who lobbed the ball into the net from thirty yards out. Six - five to the hosts... The next thirteen minutes seemed to disappear in a flash and the final whistle was blown.

The lads really deserved something from the game, yet football doesn’t always work that way does it. Despite being pointless, there were positives to draw from the game. All the players displayed a great attitude, never believing they were beaten. Spencer Soakell and Dan Smith again linked well and never stopped. Josh Hammerton and Tom Horner were asked to play out of position, didn’t grumble and just got on with it. Liam Wynn literally never stopped running on his league debut, scoring one and setting two up for the man of the match Ollie Johnson.

We again find ourselves needing to look forward to next Sunday’s game and put this disappointing result behind us.

Report by Andrew Alton