Darlington Under 23s 6 Washington Reserves 2

Darlington Under-23s recorded another strong result with a 6–2 win over Washington Reserves in the Washington Aged Peoples Trophy at the Eastbourne Sports Complex.

The first half proved to be an open and entertaining affair. Washington struck first in the 26th minute, taking advantage of a quick break to open the scoring. The response from the young Quakers was immediate — Owen Smith levelled just two minutes later with a composed finish in the 28th minute. Washington restored their lead almost instantly in the 29th minute, but Steven Dawson ensured parity going into the break, finding the net with a well-taken goal in the 42nd minute to make it 2–2 at half-time.

After the interval, Darlington stepped up a gear and took full control of the game. Jesse Nelson struck twice early in the second half (49 and 58 minutes) to turn the game firmly in Darlington’s favour. Sam Booth added a fifth on 54 minutes, before Jack Mortimer rounded off a clinical team performance with a sixth goal in the 77th minute.

Under 23s manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “It was a display that showcased our attacking depth, resilience, and ability to shift momentum after a competitive first half. We played really well in the second half.”

A shared Man of the Match award goes to Owen Smith and Callum Thomson, who both impressed with standout performances throughout the 90 minutes.

A huge thank you to our Match Day Sponsor – LCM Group for their valued support, and to our partners Relo Wind and Ann Cordey Estate Agents for their continued backing of the Under-23s.