Kenzie stars on his return in Under 15 win

Darlington FC U-15s Feethams 3 South Park 2

Match report by Andrew Alton

As for our previous league game we played before Christmas, we travelled to Middlesbrough to take on South Park Rangers. Due to our pitch being unfit we travelled to play our ‘home’ game there.

Within three minutes we had taken the lead catching the opposition still finding their feet following kick off. Bailey Proudlock getting hold of a loose ball at the edge of the box, his shot rifled in and the keeper could only parry the ball and Liam Wynn showing intelligence following in to tap home. Following taking the lead the lads struggled a little almost not being at the pace of the game and there was no surprise when the equaliser came following a scramble in the box, the ball eventually poked home.

After twenty minutes Darlington were more settled, applied sustained pressure winning several corners. One of which Liam Wynn whipped in beautifully to the edge of the six yard box and Tom Horner rose and met it with his head giving the ‘keeper no chance as the ball nestled in the corner of the net.

It wasn’t all one way traffic Kenzie Alton in the home goal being required to save smartly with his legs from a one on one situation. South Park too forced corners as the half drew on - quite often our Achilles heel - twice requiring Kenzie to punch clear from a crowded six yard box. Always looking like a third goal was needed the boys continued to press on. The midfield trio of Dan Smith, Spencer Soakell and Tom Horner always seemed to possess the upper hand in terms of quality and a foul on Dan presented Darlo a free kick in the centre circle with just minutes remaining in the first half. Kieran Bowers stepped up and delivered a text book floated ball to around the penalty spot to which Dan Smith jumped meeting the ball to glance in another quality headed goal following Tom Horner’s earlier header.

On to the second half and South Park began to press once again looking to reduce the deficit. Kenzie Alton again called into action tipping a shot around the post and another over the bar when from the sidelines it looked to being looping over him. The hosts continued to ask questions with wing backs Ollie Johnson and Joe Hanson getting through a lot of defensive work. When the ball found its way towards our penalty box though quite often if one of our central defenders missed it, another would be covering, the trio of Josh Hammerton, Alex Mason and Kieran Bowers all clearing their lines at one time or another.

Having ran himself to a standstill Tom Horner was replaced by Kieran Longstaff returning after his second absence due to injury. Another player out on his feet Bailey Proudlock also given a rest replaced by versatile Sandy Gardner, slotting in seamlessly at wing back and Ollie Johnson going up top. With twenty minutes remaining though Darlington’s resilience was broken. A corner beautifully headed home to return the gap to one goal. In previous games a little panic has arisen in these circumstances but the lads retained their shape and managed to see the game out to take all three points.

So despite playing both league fixtures away, Darlington completed their first double of the season.

Man of the match was a straight shoot out between the ever impressive Joe Hanson - who continues to catch the eye of both our own and away supporters - and Kenzie Alton playing his first league game since returning from injury following a lengthy lay off. Kenzie edged the verdict with a confident performance making several important stops and staying strong when under pressure from the opposition.

As always against South Park Rangers a tight game in which attempt stop us from playing our natural game but we continue our unbeaten league record against them after taking four points from them last season. The boys digging deep and standing up to be counted, not one poor performance from the thirteen who made the trip. We make our longest journey next week to take on Guisborough Town looking to take all three points after a disappointing draw on the opening day of the season.

Man of the Match (as voted by spectators) Kenzie Alton

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Durham FA League Division One U14’s

Darlington Feethams Under 14s 3 Harraton Athletic 1

Match report by James Carverhill

Shirt Sponsor: Ramside Hall Hotel

Kit Sponsor: Map Recoveries/Motors

Johnstone

Pocock Harland Bruce Tweddle

Simmi Skull Ord Jackson

McCowie Blackham

Subs; Warburton, Kirk, Chidanyika, Booth, Ruddick, Hatton, Carvey

1st Half.

Feethams started the game well, making some great triangular passing between the R/LB’s , CM’s and R/L Wingers. Within minutes, Simmi had the ball to the by-line and a low cross into the box, but the shot went narrowly wide.

Harraton found it difficult at time to get the ball away from Feethams, but on the same token, Feethams could not get it passed their solid defence and the DM no.3 player who seemed to be everywhere.

After several creative attacking plays, shoots from McCowie/Blackham, it took a bit of: either genius or just ‘dam right cheek’ for the opener. Harraton cleared their lines with a ball out, pushed out, Harland saw the keeper was well off his line and took a perfectly hit lob to beat the keeper from the half way line, unbelievable!!

Very un-characteristically Feethams Defence Switched off for a second and Harraton latched onto this, leaving Johnstone no-chance, 1-1.

Chidanyika made his debut in the half, got involved, but didn’t have the time on the ball to show what I know he can do as Harraton closed down very quick, he admitted it was very fast paced game, in 2 more games he’ll be banging them in like at training.

Johnstone (1st start since his long injury) looked solid at the back, commanding, clearing quickly for the counter-attacks and when called upon, made some brilliant saves.

Great build-up attacking play again, plenty of 1-2’s, to realise Blackham into the box, 2-1, his stats have to be a goal a game at least!

The lads didn’t stop, with Tweddle & Pocock pushing up, Skull breaking their runs down and laying off to Ord who created forward opportunities for Jackson/Simmi to ‘have a go’ at their defence.

Half-time:

Darlington Feethams 2

Harraton Ath 1

2nd Half.

Harraton came out fighting second half and Warburton kept the score to only 1, making some unbelievable finger-tip saves!

Carvey took over from where Pocock left off, pressing from the back and Hatton came on Tackled, 1-2’d, created play and generally caused a headache for Harraton, fresh legs every now and again to keep the fast pace-up.

Kirk and Ruddick came on for Simmi and Skull, The next 15 minutes the ball was played mainly in the middle of the pitch, no-one breaking into the last ¼ for either side.

Kirk took the ball from just outside his quarter and ran at their defence, taking it passed player after player, played a superb through ball to Blackham, who doesn’t miss from there… 3-1.

Booth (who has signed as CB cover when needed) came on for the last 5 and played well as Harland took a knock and had to come off, * nothing serious, just a knock.

Man of the Match: Jack Harland.

Durham 0 v DFC u14 Quakers 8

Darlington travelled to Durham City juniors for their first game of the new year and dominated from the off. A great passage of play led to a great strike from Matty Callander for the opener; great work and shot from Connor Brown led to a tap in for Cieran Dixon for the second; pure magic from Cieran Dixon beating 4 men before slotting the ball pass the keeper for 3-0

Half time

Straight from kick off it was 4.  Colby Agnama with a superb cross shot Lewis Carragher just getting a touch on it for 4-0. Colby then made it 5 with a great passage of play and finish, number 6 soon followed brilliant through ball from Cieran Dixon split the defence and Colby Agnama with a calm finish for his second goal of the game. Good work and cross for Daniel Adok led to number 7 for Kia Wright pick of the goals came from man of the match Cieran Dixon who claimed his hat trick with a superb strike from 18 yards giving the keeper no chance . Some great performances today Mark Gent bossed the midfield and Thomas Lea and Frankie Whelan were superb at the back for Darlo.

Final Score:

Darlington Feethams 3

Harraton Ath 1