This week's youth team round up
By Ray Simpson
How our youth teams are faring
Here are last weekend's youth teams results:
Here's a round up of how our youth teams fared last weekend in the Russell Foster Youth League and the Teesside Junior Football Alliance League.
Because of FA rules, we're unable to publish the results of any matches involving Under 11s and below.
U7 Boys
A totally fantastic performance. I can definitely see so much improvement in this U7 team, it's encouraging to see how well they are all developing. This is a game we would have lost earlier in the season, but the boys went out played well as a team, moving the ball around the pitch nicely on numerous occasions. They didn't let their heads go down when we went a goal behind we carried on battling hard showing great character and strength to get back in front. I could talk about all the boys individually because every one of them really impressed today. Player of the match was goal keeper LT who made some great saves at crucial times in the game. There was 3 goals for SM, 2 goals for OM and 2 goals for OR.
In the development game there was a great 1st half performance from the boys who played great. 2nd half their concentration started to slip a bit. A great goal by TK and two wonderful penalty saves from LT impressing yet again, making it such a enjoyable morning for us coaches!
U9 Boys
Under 9’s Played some great football for the first 35-40minutes. Dropped off a little towards the end but the game was already won.
U10 Boys
DFC Foundation v Barnard Castle
Another excellent performance from DFC Foundation saw them overcome one of the best teams in the league in Barnard Castle.
A cagey opening ten minutes saw few chances at either end but when JB latched on to a great through ball he held off the defender brilliantly and found the corner to give us the lead. Ten minutes later, he became provider when he picked up a rebound from a SB strike and squared it to the far post for SW.
There was absolutely no chance of Darlington resting on their laurels in the second half as every player pressed and pushed and passed and moved like they have become accustomed to lately. RH was put through and hit one first time, burying it sweetly in the bottom corner to extend the lead then SB swept through the entire middle of the pitch to score a fine goal near the end of the game.
This team is winning because they are all working very hard for each other and every boy is playing his part. We're Darlo till we die!
Goals for JB, SW, RH and SB.
MOTM for SW
U10 Boys
Darlington FC Quakers v Newcastle City Juniors Napoli
A very sluggish start from the boys this morning, they seemed unable to get in to a rhythm quickly due to a spirited effort from the opposition who were quick to close down and deny any space. They were a pretty physical team and gave us a few problems early on. Midway through the first half we got the ball moving and started to dominate the game. We were unlucky not to grab an opener through JN9, making the keeper work to keep his effort out. It wasn’t long before we got a breakthrough with IT8 getting his first, he added a second soon afterwards which was quickly followed by a good first time finish from FC10 and it was all Darlo now, pass and move football in full flow and NCJ were unable to offer anything in response.
Darlo’s work rate was immense from front to back, giving NCJ no time on the ball. Any attack they had was snuffed out with ease by the impenetrable back line of CR1, LF4 and TB5. The midfield of IT8, NP7, JB6 and JJ11 were running riot setting up chance after chance and in this period JN9 almost got the goal his performance deserved but was twice denied again by great saves from the NCJ keeper. IT8 went on to complete his hat trick picking the ball up on the half way line and driving through NCJ and slotting past the keeper. To completely finish the game off FC10 then went on a scoring run bagging another 3 goals all involving good hold up play to bring team mates in to the game and then finding space in the box to finish off the moves. A really complete performance once they got going. 7 goals and a clean sheet.
Goals:
IT8 ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️
FC10 ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️
U10 Boys
Darlington FC Quakers v Boro Rangers Whites
A quick start to the game this morning saw us take the lead in the first minute. A very well worked team goal starting with quick play form IT8 and FC10 moved the ball to TB5 who exchanged with JJ11, a slick one two on the left wing creating space for TB5 to slot the ball in to the path of JN9 who calmly finished with his first touch of the game. What followed was a good response from the opposition and the game was pretty even for the next 10-15 minutes. Darlington looked the more composed of the sides but Boro fought for everything and looked dangerous in the final third and they eventually got an equaliser from a well struck free kick.
This seemed to wake the boys up and they began to add quality to their hard work. They were patient in possession and worked the ball around the field to create openings for each other. IT8 tapping in from close range after good work from FC10 to beat his man and square across the box. The next 10 minutes saw the boys hit the bar twice and the post on another couple of occasions from attack after attack. The pressure was relentless. In the second half we got the goals our play deserved with further goals from IT8 who completed his second hat trick of the weekend, JN9 getting a second and FC10 adding a 6th. Another great team performance with every one of the boys making a contribution to the result.
Goals:
JN9 ⚽️ ⚽️
FC10 ⚽️
IT8 ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️
U11 Boys
Trimdon United Vs. Darlington FC “Feethams”
Goalscorers: LE (2), TO (1)
POTM: MB
We faced a good Trimdon team that have made their way up through the divisions. This was our first time playing them. It has been a very difficult fixture for many teams and it was no different for us today.
We challenged the boys to be a bit more astute in a positional sense and to maximise their efforts during transition periods. They did this really well.
LE opened the scoring midway through the first half following good play and pressing from our boys. It was shortly after this that Trimdon played a long ball from the goal keeper which cleared our back line putting their striker through on goal, he made no mistake and our lead was short lived. Fantastic attitude from us though and we stuck to our guns. We continued applying the pressure which would eventually see the energetic LE scoring his second of the game. We went into halftime with a deserved lead. In the second half we had to be resilient and we were. There is a slope on the pitch and it’s definitely a slight advantage kicking down it so we had to defend well. Still looking to play football we created openings and we had to be good as the outstanding Trimdon central defender was on top form. We got the break through and our third goal when the on rushing TO found the bottom corner following a good pass by EM.
We are glad to come away with our desired result. Player of the match was a difficult one today with so many outstanding performances including MD, HL and EM but we’ll go with the opponents choice of MB and who are we to argue with that!
Kev and I are extremely pleased for the boys. The effort and desire shown was just brilliant! Well done to all of them.
Sponsored by:
* First Class Learning
* The Cross Keys (Gainford)
U11 Boys
Darlington FC Quakers Vs Norton Stockton Ancients
Today we faced very fast athletic opposition but our boys stuck to their tasks, it was a very tight end to end affair in the first half with us in one on one and two on two situations in their area working the ball from left to right And some fine wing play, but unfortunately Norton got the break through from a corner, with the No heading rule in place we couldn’t defend as we would like but taking nothing away from our opposition their striker struck an amazing scissor kick into the roof of a crowded net.
The second half we had quite alot of the possession but the ball just wouldn’t fall kindly to us on a very heavy muddy pitch, and trying to get a foothold back into the game our opposition broke free and seal their win with a counter attacking goal.
Massive praise for our boys today with a real battling performance, improving every week.
POM Tate Marshall 🔥
Match Sponsor
Skipbridge Signs
U12 Boys
Darlington 1 v 5 Whitby
another defeat for the lads and it’s starting to take its toll.
losing a couple players from the team then 2 injuries didn’t help in todays game that should of went our way
the lads were second to the ball every time and the team lacked passion
it’s hard in div 2 of 12 but effort should be standard
bad day at the office.
we go again !!!
Sponsored by Howdens
U15 Boys
Sunderland West End 0 v Darlington 5
4th v 2nd this morning and a solid victory for us.
Paddy rose well to head us in front after 5 minutes, before Kieran finished brilliantly close to the break to double our lead.
Paddy headed home our 3rd and Dwyanne tapped in our 4th to put the game to bed.
In the last minute Paddy completed his hat trick after battling well in the box and slotting in with his left foot.
The irony wasn’t missed on everyone that he had promised me a treble when he turned up today 😁
Equally impressive is the fact we’ve kept two clean sheets in a row against top 4 sides. From back to front we are clicking very well.
This win keeps us 3 points behind the leaders with 2 games in hand.
Goals:
Paddy ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Kieran ⚽️
Dwyanne ⚽️
MOM:
Dominic 🏆
An absolute menace down our right side all game.
Sponsored by:
Support Solutions UK and
Bristol St Motors
U16 Boys
Riverside Juniors 3 - 2 Darlington FC
High flying Darlington travelled to 2nd bottom Riverside with the bare bones of a squad hoping their impressive form would produce a performance enough to carry them through a tricky matchup… it didn’t.
There were LWBs in CM, Strikers at CB and two injuries eventually forced Darlo down to 10 able bodies at points as they succumbed to only their second defeat of the season.
The boys battled bravely in a disjointed first half, mainly caused by a inept official (both ways), but it ended 0-0. Finn rattled the cross bar from range in the best effort of the half but the lively opening 10 minutes didn’t continue through to the break.
The second half saw Riverside take a 1-0 lead via the penalty spot. They quickly grabbed a second, exposing Darlington’s intent for an equaliser leaving them open, a minute later.
A crazy final 20 minutes followed; starting with Ewan and Dylan, arriving after a county cup, subbing straight into the action to boost the weary away side.
Dylan Robson had an immediate impact, slamming home an excellent finish from inside a crowded box.
For the first time in the match, you could feel Darlington start to believe…
Fair play to Riverside though, they didn’t sit back and restored the two goal with 10 minutes to go. 3-1.
Darlington had time to grab a 2nd through Lennon’s calm finish, but a late flurry of long throws wasn’t enough to snatch an equaliser. A tough defeat today, but the team will learn a lot from it and grow as footballers. They fought hard in very difficult circumstances.
⚽️ Dylan Robson
⚽️ Ewan Robson
⭐️ Ollie Watson
U17 Boys
Darlington 0-1 Wynyard
U17s played Wynyard today in the League Cup at home. Out of the starting 11, 5 we’re carrying knocks and still wanted to play today.
The game itself was very fiesty and Darlington completed all over the park and had our chances as well as some great saves from Liam Mason in nets. Both teams struggled to find a breakthrough until the 89th min when Wynyard scored to make it 0-1!
The boys have taster their first loss of the season in a very competitive game. The boys are obviously disappointed but lots of positives to take from the game and dust ourselves off for our next game.
🏆 PoM Ethan Cuthbertson
U9 Girls
Darlington welcomed Stockton to Eastbourne on a perfect morning for football.
This is the fourth attempt after cup games and poor weather to fulfil the fixture.
The girls came out first half and worked really hard against a really well organised side to go in at half time up .
Second half the girls came out more relaxed and started playing football moving the ball & scored a few goals to run out winners .
The girls played really well as a team and fully deserved the win.
Goals
Izzy K ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Grace ⚽️
Annie A ⚽️
Xienna ⚽️
POTM - Izzy K
U11 Girls
Darlington Feethams vs Riverside Juniors
A great performance from the girls this morning in the first round of the cup. The game began quite even with some good football from both sides. Darlington got the first goal which upped the tempo, more chances were created but the Riverside keeper made some good saves. The second goal came for Darlington not long after from some great team play.
The second half began and Riverside were eager to come back into the game but once again Darlington managed to get the ball in the back of the net.
Riverside were awarded a penalty but the Darlington keeper was not willing to let that go past, an unbelievable save was made!!
Darlington managed to get another goal from a great through ball.
Riverside brought one back after some confusion in the Darlington box, but the girls did not let their heads go down.
Overall an outstanding game for Darlington which puts us into the next round of the cup⚽️
Goals-
Liv⚽️⚽️
Chloe Moore ⚽️
Emily⚽️
POM- Lilymae and Bettie🏆
U14 Girls
Hebburn Vs Darlington FC Feethams
Today we were very lucky to actually field a team today, with 5 very strong squad players missing today and a number of girls in attendance also feeling under the weather and we also had to play our goal keepers out field today, our girls didn’t let that dampen their enthusiasm to get the result they wanted our girls really dug in and ground out a great win on a very muddy pitch so proud of the squad of girls we have.
2-4 Away win
Goals
Chloe Sheppard ⚽️⚽️
Olivia Curbeson ⚽️
Own Goal⚽️
POM Sophie Bowden 🔥
Sponsor
Luxury Bed Company
Sofa and Bed Discount Warehouse
U14 Girls
Darlington Quakers 1-2 Durham Boro Rangers
A fantastic performance from the Quaker Girls this morning unfortunately saw them come away with nothing from the game. Boro Rangers have only lost 1 game all season and that came at the hands of Darlington a few weeks back. The Quaker girls started the game well with a good fast tempo and created plenty of chances. Scarlett W got the first goal with an excellent run down the right hand side and a shot that went under the keeper. Boro Rangers were always in the game and Erin made some unbelievable 1 on 1 saves to keep the score 1-0 at half time. Boro Rangers got the equaliser with a mix up at the back and then got a second with an unlucky deflection from a cross that ended up in the back of the net. Darlington continued to press and played some lovely football today, but the equaliser would just not come. Well done Boro Rangers and good luck for the rest of the season.
POTM: Amber H ⭐️
Goalscorers:
Scarlett W x1 ⚽️
Sponsored by Hayley Liddle at Bespoke Financial and Howell Cummings Joinery
U18 Girls
Kadar FC 0 v 4 Darlington FC
Following back to back league wins Darlo looked to make it three from three. A good start keeping possession well and moving the ball about and Darlo we’re awarded a penalty just before the end of the half which was converted to go in ahead at the break.
Second half and more of the same, an early goal eased some nerves and the girls didn’t stop. Very composed on the ball and chances kept flowing grabbing another two by the full time whistle!
Last 3 games 3 wins 3 clean sheets!
Scorers:
Lily W ⚽️
Nicole ⚽️
Livia L ⚽️
Kaitlyn ⚽️
Girls of the game ⭐️
Brooke & Millie