Player to Referee Pathway!

 

Well done to Nicole Graham, Oliver Walters and Ethan Cuthbertson.

 

Here's a round up of how our youth teams fared last weekend in the Russell Foster Youth League, Junior Premier League and Teesside Junior Football Alliance League.

Because of FA rules, we're unable to publish the results of any matches involving Under 11s and below.

Saturday 26th March 2022:

RFYL Girls U10 Cup Competition:

Darlington FC Vs. Hebburn Involve Flame FC

POTM: Holly, Hettie & Maisie

Team Coach Natalie Peart said; "The girls travelled to the hub today with only 7 players, mixed with the heat we knew it would be a tough game. Despite this, we made a really positive start and took the lead. The whole team were working extra hard today and credit has to be given to the defence of Betsy and Holly who were solid throughout the game. Excellent performance today from all the girls".

RFYL Girls U11 Cup Competition:

NSG Panthers Vs. Darlington FC

POTM: Ruby Kavanagh 

Team Coach Mick Walton said; "Today saw the girls face up against another one of the newly promoted teams NSG Panthers. We started quickly, and dominated possession with some great teamwork. The girls carried this on throughout the whole game, scoring some great goals to continue the winning start to the cup season".

RFYL Girls U13 Cup Competition:

Darlington FC Quakers 5-9 Chester United

Goalscorers: Eva L x2, Grace D x2

POTM: Erin F

Team Coach Shaun Mackenzie said; "We knew this cup game would be another game full of goals, having drew 6-6 and 3-3 with Chester in the league campaign this season. We were not wrong and unfortunately the girls were on the wrong end of a 14 goal thriller. Believe it or not, half of the goals came in the last 15 minutes!

The Quaker girls played some fantastic football throughout and worked tirelessly to give themselves a 4-3 lead with 15 minutes to go, coming from behind twice to regain the lead after going 1 up. On such a hot day, the water break in the second half proved pivotal for Chester as they came back out with a fast tempo and scored 4 goals in 5 minutes to give them the lead and progress to the next round. Quakers regrouped after the initial shock and got another goal back but Chester's fitness levels proved too much and the back and forth game ended 9-5 to Chester. Good luck to Chester in the next round".

RFYL Girls U16 Cup Competition:

Hartlepool FC 5-1 Darlington FC 

Goalscorers: Livia L 

POTM: Lacey B

Team Coach Scott Buckton said; "A great game of football from both teams saw Hartlepool hit first from a corner. Darlington soon hit back themselves to level things up again but a late first half goal saw the girls 2-1 down at halftime. A Second half with 3 goals again but unfortunately all to Hartlepool. Credit where it is deserved to the Hartlepool girls who gave us the toughest test today and brought the Darlington Girls unbeaten run to an end".

TJFA Girls U13 League:

Skelton FC 1-5 Darlington FC Feethams 

Goalscorers: Anna Curberson (2), Liv Curberson, Chanelle Neilson & Izobella Ross

POTM: Libby Woods

Team Coach Paul Ross said; "Absolutely fantastic again today from the girls despite several players missing today. It was a little bit of a slow start until the girls worked out their new positions on the pitch and we went into the break 0-1 up! In the second half, our girls showed their class and also the girls fitness levels played a massive part in the second half to kill the game off running out 1-5 winners".

JPL Boys U13 League:

South Shields FC 1-2 Darlington FC Academy 

Goalscorers: Ellis Chessworth & Paddy Key

Team Coach Lee Hutton said; "In warm conditions we probably put in our poorest performance of the season. We struggled to get going from the start and struggled to link the play. If truth be told, a lot of our boys had district and school fixtures last night so they looked very leggy. Creating opportunities was hard to come by against a team we have beaten comfortably 3 times this season already. Despite the poor performance we still ground out a win and another 3 points".

JPL Boys U14 League: 

NYSA FC 2-0 Darlington FC 

POTM: Dominic Thirlwall 

Team Coach Michael Eggleston said; "A game of few chances, which saw us lose to 2 goals in the last 10 minutes. Plenty of effort, but the quality wasn’t there today. We go again next week though, knowing a win or draw will see us finish top of our group".

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Sunday 28th March 2022:

TJFA Boys U9 White Division: 

Darlington FC Foundation Vs. Great Ayton FC

POTM: Jos Blewitt

Goalscorers: Seth Boardman, Sam Webber & James Ward

Team Coach Dom Webber said; "The boys played excellently and dominated from the beginning. Great Ayton had beaten us by the same scoreline at their place, so it was great to see how well we have developed during the course of this season. Every single member of the squad played their part and we constructed some great passing moves, particularly for the goal of the match, finished by Sam to make it 2-0. The previous one, from Seth's head is now an established corner routine and James finished off another good move when Jos put it on a plate for him, making it 3-0 at half time. Great Ayton fought back in the second half but DFC managed the game really well, conceding one towards the end but still created chances of their own. Every one of them had a claim to man of the match but Jos edged it with a great all round display. Well done boys!".

TJFA Boys U9 Red Division:

Darlington FC Development Vs. Northallerton FC 

Goalscorers: Jude Nicholson (2)

Team Coach Lee Childs said; "The boys started brightly against a very good Northallerton team and deservedly took the lead within the first couple of minutes with a well worked goal and a tidy finish from Jude. The game became quite physical and it started to even the game out. Before halftime, Northallerton grabbed an equaliser after good work from their winger resulted in a goal from a deflected shot. We started the second half well and retook the lead but the game was still open. Just as we were starting to look comfortable we were give an extremely soft penalty decision against us, which Northallerton scored to draw the game level. A draw was a difficult result to take today in the circumstances but we dust ourselves off and go again next week".

TJFA Boys U10 White Division: 

Eaglescliffe FC Vs. Darlington FC Development 

Team Coach Chris Coyles said; "On a very sunny morning, our boys put in another great performance against a strong Eaglescliffe team. The passing, moving and all round play was top draw, well done boys".

TJFA Boys U10 Red Division: 

Darlington FC Foundation Vs. Thornaby Town FC

Goalscorers: Thomas Orton & Lukas Ellis 

POTM: Max Dawson & Kian Hutton

Team Coach Paul Orton said; "It was probably our most dominant display of the season yesterday. I said to the boys afterwards that it was a very good game to learn from. The game offered us different challenges and Thornaby certainly weren’t going to make it easy for us to get the break through. The boys played on the front foot throughout and with good high pressure from them we allowed Thornaby very little opportunity to get forward. A rare attack did see Thornaby take the lead though and it was an incredible strike from distance that nestled into the top corner. Following this, it was pleasing to see us continue playing good football. We kept probing away at the resilient Thornaby team who were beginning to wear down after long periods of pressure. It would have been easy for the boys to lose focus, get frustrated and for the game to turn frantic but in the end they got their due rewards. Both goals superbly assisted with pinpoint crosses from Edward and JJ. It was a close score line but nevertheless a well deserved one. Credit to Thornaby, they made it difficult throughout, holding a deep and narrow defensive unit exceptionally well. Their goalkeeper played an absolute blinder and it was a brilliant strike by their front man to put them a goal up. Thanks to Kian and Max for volunteering to go in goal, both doing a great job. Well done to all the boys, a good team effort. Praise also goes to the referee for the game, teenager Oliver Walters who was making his officiating debut".

TJFA Boys U13 Division 1:

Darlington FC 3-1 Whitby Fisherman FC

Goalscorers: Paddy Key, Tom Rochester & Rudi Santini

Team Coach Lee Hutton said; "Another good win for the boys today, especially given that we had 2 players missing. Relatively early in the game we went 1-0 up only for Whitby to equalise close to half time. Second half we made a change which seemed to work and soon went 2-1 up. The boys kept trying to play passing football and as the game went on we scored again to kill the game off".

TJFA Boys U16 Division 3:

Darlington TSC FC 1-1 Darlington FC Foundation

Goalscorer: Leo Pontone 

POTM: Leo Pontone

Team Coach Grant Cuthbertson said; "On a lovely sunny afternoon at Hummersknott, Darlington U16 Foundation kicked off against TSC with only 11 players available. It was a closely contested affair from start to finish. Dominic Stacey was tenacious in midfield and battled for everything like a terrier. Ethan Cuthbertson shot towards goal with a left footed volley that went narrowly wide, the game remained goalless at the break. Second half was much the same and on the 48th minute a long ball from Liam Mason as goalkeeper went all the way through and the speed and bravery of Leo Pontone he nodded in for a 0-1 lead. We continued to dominate and played some intricate football in midfield and spreading the play from one flank to the other but like it has been all season with no recognised forward it came to nothing! A lose clearance from Darlington in the 80th min to a TSC player who played it forward and should of been dealt with by the defence seen the striker shoot and it was 1-1! and that is how the game finished".

Darlington FC Development 5-1 Marske FC

Goalscorers: Alistair Banks (3), Liam Murray & Raphael Oppong

POTM: Raphael Oppong

Team Coach Wayne Gredziak said; "On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Darlington Development picked up all 3 points against last years joint title winners. Today, we played some of the best football we have for along time and secured our status in TJFA division 1 for next season. A brilliant display from all 11 players who was there and well done to Alistair Banks on a superb hattrick and on any other day would have got player of the match if it wasn't for Raphael Oppong producing an excellent performance with 3 assists and a goal".