Darlington Wearside Youth Under 13s 2 Langley Park Hotspurs Under 13s 1

Darlington Wearside youths U13 started this penultimate game V Langley Park Hotspurs U13 with a team missing Goalkeeper Alexander Bates, Keiran Devlin and Ryan Smithwhite. Also because of the injury to goalkeeper Bates this meant outfield player Jaxon Briggs was required to keep goal.

The game started quite lively and on three minutes left back Lucas Reed passed the ball into the mid-field where Tommy Hunt spread the ball to the right and Jamie Dodds passed down the line to the advancing Kieron Wakefield who headed into the box towards the goal. Wakefield was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box and the referee awarded Darlington a penalty. The penalty was taken by Wakefield himself and he duly sent the ball into the Langley Park net.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 1 - Langley Park Hotspurs U13 0.

Langley Park proved to be a match for the footballing skills of the Darlington team and on four minutes (stand-in) goalkeeper Jaxon Briggs was called upon to make his first save of the morning, which showed he was up for the game with a comfortable save. However, on five minutes Langley Park were awarded a free kick which the Darlington defence failed to clear. The return shot from a Langley Park forward passed through the Darlington players and went under the diving body of the (unsighted) Darlington keeper.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 1 - Langley Park Hotspurs U13 1.

Following the two quick opening goals the game developed into a very evenly matched battle.

Both teams were very quick to close down the opposition. Both teams were quick in the tackle and the skill set of both teams was evenly matched.

Such was the evenness no team had many free shots at the opponents goal. Any shots were covered well by both goal keepers and Briggs proved to be a good understudy for the regular Bates.

Both teams spread the ball confidently around the pitch and generally displayed the same style of play in attack and defence.

Both teams had tenacity and both displayed the 'will to win'.

The whistle was blown for half time with the score line being Darlington Wearside youth u13 1 - Langley Park Hotspurs U13 1.

The second half started and progressed in the same competitive manner as the first half with the Darlington team probably gaining slightly the 'upper hand', although Langley Park defended 'with a passion'.

On 65 minutes Kieron Wakefield again found himself inside the Langley Park box heading for goal. Again the referee adjudged a foul to have been committed and another penalty was awarded.

Wakefield opted to take the penalty and shot low and right. The Langley Park keeper produced a good save and knocked the ball upward with an outstretched arm. The ball rebounded off the underside of the cross bar and back out of the goal. Wakefield was the quickest to react and chased onto the returning ball to score his and Darlington's second goal of the game.

Such was the evenness of this game that there was no increase to the score line and the final whistle ended the game with the result of Darlington Wearside Youth U13 2 - Langley Park Hotspurs U13 1.

This was a very enjoyable game of football by two teams who were evenly matched in attack and defence. The game was played with a competitive spirit but also in the manner befitting two very good and skilful teams. Such was the 'friendly' atmosphere of this game that the Langley Park team lined up at the end and applauded the Darlington Wearside team off the pitch. A honorable gesture.