Under 12s run rings around the Hoops – this week’s youth team round up

HFC United Hoops 1-13 Darlington FC U12's

Match report by Jonny Kane

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Darlington’s passing games started slowly as quite a few passes were going astray and a few mistakes being made. The lads kept their heads up even when mistakes were being made and kept moving the ball and trying to get the flow started and the passes flowing.

Once the passes started flowing, that's when Darlington started playing some great football and a pure class team performance and lovely to watch. Will Gatiss opened the scoring with a lovely free kick from the left hand side after being fouled himself. Soon 2-0 after a fantastic finish from Charlie Drury to curl the ball home from outside the box. After a great pass from the centre of the pitch from Tyler Rowden who sent Will on his way on the far right, who cut it across the box for Kit Hodgson to tap the ball home, 3-0. Will got his second of the game and Darlo’s 4th as he took on 3 men and scored. Unfortunately a mix up in the defence gave HFC a goal back just before half time.

HT 4-1

The second half started quickly and Preston Gradziak got his 1st goal after using his strength to hold off the last defender and score,5-1. His striking partner up front was Taylor Dunn and he got his say in the game by getting the 6th after a through ball found the way to Taylor for him to score. Charlie Drury got his second of the game after taking on 2 defenders on the right hand side and scored with a neat finish. Will got yet another hat trick this season, a through ball from Charlie to send Preston through and he nicely cut it back for Will to tap in.

Another hat trick in the game came from Charlie who received a cut back Kit to curl the ball home into the far corner to make it 9-1. Kit was involved again in the next goal scored by Tyler Rowden, Kit took on a player in the centre of the pitch and lays it off for Tyler to take on 2 defenders to power his way into the box and power the ball home. Then another player was involved in the next two goals, as Dom Stacey collected a loose pass in the centre of the pitch and use his strength to run through the defence and score. Dom then set up Tyler Rowden to get his second and Darlo’s 12th. The Last of the goals came from Preston after a goalmouth scramble which led to him tapping the ball in.

FT 13-1

MOTM: This was the hardest decision of all season as every player on the pitch had an absolute brilliant game but the MOTM has been given to Tyler Rowden as he ran the show in the centre of the pitch and kept everybody organised all game.

U 13’s Billingham 3 Darlington Fc Under 13s 4

By Mikey Weston

Darlington travelled to Billingham for what looked a difficult fixture, both teams down the wrong end of the league, and both in need of the points to push away from the relegation zone,

Darlo set out to take the game to Billingham and should have been 1-0 up after Nathan Dybell fired wide,

But when every throw & free kick goes against you we knew what would happen next and yes 1-0 Billingham,

Darlo, pushed on by captain Jo Crumpton and it wasn’t long before William Watt found Milo Harris who fired home from 22 yards out.

1-1 ht

Second half saw more of the same, Darlo controlling the game before another free kick resulted in Billingham going 2-1 up,

After we made a few tactical changes and formation, switching wingers Nathan & Ben,  Ben Roddy found himself 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper & lobbed him to make it 2-2

Darlo pushed on again and sub Christopher Walters headed Darlo in front to make it 3-2.

With Darlo controlling the game,  after what seemed to be one of the best covering tackles you will see by Ricky Patterson, the referee decided to give a penalty from 45 yards away Billingham made it 3-3.

Darlo have a never say die attitude & cheered on by the parents who were amazing Darlo pushed on & with a looping cross by mom Ricky Patterson for Christopher Walters to head home his 2nd of the game 4-3.

Darlo dominated the game and deserved the win.

man of the match

Ricky Patterson

Milo Harris

Ben Roddy

Chris Walters x2

Attendance 63

21^st All Stars 6 Darlington Fc Under 15s 1

Match report by Andrew Alton

We made the shortest of journeys today to take on 21st Allstars. Missing five players due to school trips it was always going to be hard work with no substitutes available to lessen the burden.

We went one down inside the first five minutes, a well worked goal catching the lads on the back foot. The home side continued to cause problems until twenty five minutes in when Darlington enjoyed their best passage of play keeping their opponents pinned in their own half. With five minutes remaining though the hosts doubled the lead. With two players standing well offside for the goal our third choice keeper vented his frustration to the referee who had no choice but to show him a red card for dissent.

So in at half time two down and down to ten men things were looking a bit bleak to say the least! Darlington competed well keeping the hosts from adding to their lead for the first twenty minutes of the second half. Then though a well taken headed goal from a corner loosened our grip on things and Allstars went on to add three more until we finally broke our duck.

Ben Eales playing against his former side driving into the box only to be brought down near the penalty spot. Ben dusted himself down and stepped up to take the kick himself, the keeper getting down well to his right to keep the ball out. Ben though was following up and slotted the rebound home.

That was the last notable action of the game.

A game that was always going to be a struggle was spoilt by the offside goal leading to us going down to ten men. Credit to our opponents though who fought for everything and took their chances well. Still a few positives to take from the game the defensive four of Sandy Gardner, Alex Mason, Josh Hammerton and Euan Simpson all impressed despite the score line. New signings Ben Eeles and Dan Adok continue to impress, Daniel’s second half showing especially pleasing. Man of the match went to Alex Mason in the centre of defence who along with his partner Josh worked tirelessly in trying to keep Darlo in the game. On to next week when we look to get back on the winning trail against TIBS at home.