U-15s Feethams 5 Norton and Stockton Blacks 0

Darlington played host to N&S Ancients Black in the League Cup. With almost a full squad to choose from, there were several changes in the line up from last week.

The home team started brightly playing their more usual short sharp passing game through the midfield. For long periods the central midfield trio of Dylan Lewis, Dan Smith and Spencer Soakell had the opposition chasing shadows. They kept the ball moving, keeping possession for extended lengths of time. Several early chances came and went for Darlington's Ollie Johnson and Bailey Proudlock, both going close without success. Rather than getting frustrated, the team continued as they had started, playing neat passes with Spencer Soakell playing the final longer ball behind the defence causing all sorts of problems.

After 20 minutes they were justly rewarded for their superiority, Bailey Proudlock dropping off the front to play a precise through ball which Ollie Johnson latched onto with only the keeper to beat. His first shot was only parried back to him, Ollie (making no mistake with his second attempt) buried it into the back of the net from five yards out. N&S did find a way through intermittently but were faced with a solid, calm central defensive pairing of Kian Slater and Kieron Bowers who remained impregnable. Josh Hammerton and Joe Hanson the full backs also dealt with any danger swiftly with the minimum of fuss. Joe in particular more than once switching play to the opposite flank superbly.

After half an hour, an early contender for goal of the season: Dylan Lewis trapping the ball before playing a cute back heel perfectly into the path of Spencer Soakell. In turn Spencer played an inch perfect pass to Bailey Proudlock, who stroked the ball into the left hand corner of the goal from about ten yards out. The lads pressed for the rest of the half without adding to the scoreline.

Darlington started the second half in similar fashion to the first and ten minutes later they widened the scoreline following a triple substitution. Kieron Longstaff carried the ball for thirty yards and just when most spectators must have been expecting him to let fly from the edge of the box he played a neat little reverse pass to Tom Horner who took advantage of the wrong footed defence to send a ball to the far post for Ollie Johnson to cut back inside and finish with his left foot.

Norton and Stockton, to their credit, kept plugging away but will have been disappointed that their only shot on target was a tame effort from eight yards out which 'keeper Kenzie Alton gathered with ease. Just as the impetus seemed to be subsiding, the hosts added another; Ollie Johnson picking out Spencer Soakell at the far post, who after a couple of attempts headed the ball into the net from close range. There was time for one more goal with Kieran Longstaff (finding himself one-on-one with the keeper) firing it into the top corner, despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball the power gave him no chance of keeping it out.

On reflection, the boys did exactly what was expected of them; they beat a lower league opposition. The impressive thing though was the way they went about it, heeding the coaches' instructions and not taking the opposition lightly. A thoroughly professional display, which they will have to reproduce in later rounds when the opposition may give them a stiffer test.

With such a pleasing performance you would be forgiven for thinking that the man of the match award would be a tricky one to give. The aforementioned central midfield trio spearheaded by Spencer Soakell. Ollie Johnson near his attacking best with two goals? No, for the second week running Joe Hanson takes the accolade, most spectators and both coaches agreed on this. Defending and going forward Joe was hugely impressive.

Next week, another cup match and possibly a sterner test when we play host to Seaham Roseberry Park.

Report by Andrew Alton