Our under 23s ran riot at Washington in the Wearside League, winning 9-0 and going top of the table.

Jack Mortimer scored six of the goals in the win, which puts the Under 23s top, although second placed Middlestone Moor, who are three points behind, have three games in hand.

https://www.wearside-football-league.org.uk/leagueTables/

Here's the match report

Darlington FC Youth U23s were focused on a big bounce back after last week’s cup exit. The boys were hungry to show what they’re about against a Washington side with a decent defensive record and would be tough to break down. A good sized pitch and a wet surface had all the makings for a really good game of football.

Darlo came out the traps early showing really good intent and were rewarded with an early goal off the back of it, Jack Mortimer setting the tempo with a strong finish near post. The boys kept possession really impressively for the next 20 minutes, playing slick football side to side and patiently waiting for the gaps to open. A Darlo corner curling into the back of the next with Stevie Dawson claiming the credit..

The boys didn’t let up and kept pushing hard, learning to be relentless and put games to bed early and they certainly did that. A few more chances spread across several players but it was Will Maddison who got the boys’ third, a brilliantly worked goal with a dinked finish to put the boys 3-0 up at halftime, really impressive football all round.

It was good vibes and energy in the dressing room as the boys came out second half raring to go.Seven minutes into the half when a free kick on the edge taken by Mortimer curved round the outside and into the top corner, absolute quality. Not long after Stevie Dawson with the follow up being at the right place at the right time to make it 5-0 to Darlo.

A flurry of penalties won and taken by Mortimer bumped the boys up another couple of goals and Ethan McLoughlin came on for Dawson. Instant impact for the sub as he finds a ball round the back of the defenders to set Mortimer free with yards of room to pick the finish and tuck the ball home for his fifth of the game and then he added a personal sixth to complete the scoring.

Starting Line-Up:
1. Liam Mason, 2. Jayden Sekete, 3. Thomas Southwood, 4. Owen Harvey, 5. Dylan Helliwell 6. Kayne Williams7. Jack Mortimer 8. Will Maddison, 9. Stevie Dawson 10. Ethan Cuthbertson 11. Alfie Fawcett

Subs:
12. Oliver Walters 14. Ethan McLoughlin 15. Owen Smith 16. Harry Butters 17. Thomas Martin