Under 14s lose to South Park
By Ray Simpson
Darlington FC Youth U14s 2 South Park Rangers 4League Cup Away kit kindly sponsored by MCC Util...
Darlington FC Youth U14s 2 South Park Rangers 4
League Cup
Away kit kindly sponsored by MCC Utilities Limited
Darlington welcomed runaway leaders of the division South Park Rangers for a eagerly anticipated cup tie. Rangers arrived with an unbeaten league record of nine wins and a draw in ten games.
The game started with Darlington creating a couple of openings almost straight from the kick off, Liam Wynn and Kieran Longstaff and Olly Johnson all going close. But it was South Park who broke the deadlock a little over ten minutes in, a shot from the right from a tight angle beating 'keeper Kenzie Alton at his near post by sheer power. The home side pressed for the equaliser for the remainder of the half, the visitors content to try and hit on the break with balls over the top of the home defence. After half an hour Darlington were rewarded for their efforts, a corner was only half cleared and Kieran Longstaff pounced to whip the ball left footed into the right corner of the net.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with the visitors taking advantage of an uncleared ball to nick the lead back. The hosts again spurred into action. Liam Wynn went close fifteen minutes in with a right footed shot that flew over the bar from just outside the box. Five minutes later Liam struck the equaliser, running into the box and dispatching a cool finish with his left foot into the corner of the net. South Park began to press a little more from this point, Spencer Soakell deserving a mention for the tireless work he did from right back but Darlington possibly tired and seemed to sit back a little, a third goal for the visitors followed as the defence struggled to clear, and a fourth from the penalty spot followed soon after.
The final score of 2-4 probably flattered South Park a little and left the lads a little deflated to be out of the cup.
Looking at it objectively though, they now know that they are very capable of competing with the division's high flyers who they still have to meet twice in the league.
