Hartlepool Pools Youth 1 Darlington 3

The Quaker Women made it four wins in a row with a 3-1 victory over Hartlepool at High Tunstall. Three first half goals from Lily Wilkinson, Grace Dobson and Chloe Bright were enough to bring the three points back to Darlo. 

Manager Shaun MacKenzie was delighted with the win taking into consideration a three week break beforehand, and said; “They were a big three points for us in our aim to finish as high as we possibly can in the league. Not our best performance by a long shot, but we got the job done and that’s the most important thing. We started the game really well but didn’t really kick on once we got the lead. We haven’t had a competitive game for three weeks and that didn’t help.

“But that’s not an excuse to not be up for the game, especially against Hartlepool. I felt we lacked intensity at times and we were too slow at moving the ball. Pools sat in and defended well and didn’t really pose an attacking threat but we need to be better at breaking teams down and switching the play much quicker when we have possession. I was really disappointed to concede a goal in the last minute and ruin what would have been our 7th clean sheet of the season.

“I made my frustrations clear to the girls and they know we will have to be much better if we are going to compete next week in the semi final of the League Cup against Boldon. On a positive note that’s four wins in a row and hopefully we can take that momentum into next week. It’s a good sign that we can still win and get the three points when not at our best’ 

Darlington started on the front foot and were 1-0 up in the first 2 minutes. A long throw from Lana Williams saw Lily Wilkinson react first and poke the goal off the post and over the line for her 10th goal of the season and the first player to reach double figures this season. 

A second followed on around the 20 minute mark with good vision from Nicole Graham who played a lofted pass in to the back post where Grace Dobson beat the offside trap and finished well for Darlo’s second and Dobson’s 10th goal for the Quaker Women and 6th of the season. 

Just 5 minutes later and Chloe Bright was on the scoresheet again to get Darlington’s 3rd goal. Some unselfish play from Chloe Ryan saw her pass the ball across the box for Bright to finish from a few yards out and get her 8th goal of the season! Her best goal return yet in a Darlington shirt. 

The rest of the half was frustrating for Darlington as they continued to dominate possession but not create many clear cut chances as Hartlepool sat back and defended well. Half time, saw Ryan, Wilkinson and Hodgson make way for Leach, Ryder-Ingledew and Raine. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first and Darlington continued to have the majority of the ball but struggled to break down a resilient Pools Youth side who remained compact and got numbers behind the ball. Unfortunately Darlington switched off in the last minute of the game and a throw on the left hand side found the Hartlepool forward through on goal to loft the ball over Billingham’s head to ruin the clean sheet. 

Player of the match was awarded to Nicole Graham for a solid midfield display and a great assist for the second goal. 

Thanks to Pools Youth for the game and good luck for your last game of the season next week. 

Here's the league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?selectedSeason=65571865&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=1&selectedDivision=371387182&selectedCompetition=0

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