Chester-le-Street Amazons 3 Darlington 1

Darington Women lost their first league game of the season against fellow promotion contenders Chester-le-Street Amazons.

Quakers paid the penalty for a lack of finishing, as the Amazons maintained their own unbeaten record.

Darlington manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It was a tough one to take, I honestly feel that the better team lost the game. But that’s football. We had plenty of the ball and created enough chances but goals win you games and unfortunately possession doesn’t.

“The girls are gutted with the loss and I know they are disappointed in the manner we conceded the goals. We have to be better in certain situations and we will work on that over the next couple of weeks.

“I would be more worried if we didn’t turn up today and didn’t create the chances. But I can’t question the effort to get back in the game. It was just one of those days where things didn’t come off and the ball wouldn’t go in the net. Credit to Amazons for defending well and their keeper had a great game.

“At the end of the day, we have still started the season well and it’s how we bounce back from the first league defeat. We will look forward to the rematch in a couple of weeks’ time and hope to put things right.”

Darlington started the game well and could have been 1-0 up when Grace Dobson was through one on one just a couple of minutes into the game. She did everything right but the ball agonisingly bounced of the post and back out. Amazons then went 1-0 up with their first attack of the game a few minutes later.

Darlington continued to have more of the ball and controlled the game in large spells but chances went begging and Amazons had a second goal from a corner on the 20th minute. Darlington continued to search for a way back into the game but were still 2-0 down at half time. 

Second half was more of the same and with Amazons holding a 2-0 lead, they sat back and soaked up the pressure. The attacks kept coming and Darlington finally got the breakthrough on the hour mark, a well worked goal with a ball across the box from Nicole Graham for Grace Dobson to tap in at the back post. 2-1 and the comeback was on, but that was short lived when Amazons regained their two goal advantage with another goal from a corner four minutes later. 

The Quaker Women were two down again and had a mountain to climb to get back in the game. They threw everything at it and despite a few penalty appeals, handball shouts and hitting the post again, they couldn’t find a way through a resolute Amazons. The second half was very stop start with some lengthy injuries but Amazons managed the game out well. They dug in with ten players for the last five minutes after a player was sin binned for dissent. It just wasn’t to be for Darlington in front of goal today. 

Player of the match went to Vikki Ryder on her full debut. She dictated and controlled large parts of the game in both halves. Composed on the ball and started a lot of Darlington’s attacks. 

Many thanks to CLS Amazons for the game. Good luck for the rest of the season.