Darlington Youth Wearside under 13s 7 Darlington Quakers under 13s 0

The game started off with both teams gathered in the centre circle to pay 30 seconds silence in memory of Kevin Hunt who passed away recently, having been involved with both teams in the recent past.

The Darlington Wearside team started off the game a bit sharper than the Darlington Quakers and were initially too fast for their own good, having found themselves off side six times within the first five minutes.

However both sides settled and inevitably on 11 minutes the Wearside Youth found themselves again on the attack. This attack was thwarted by the Quakers and the Wearside number 14 Ryan Smithwhite passed the ball back to the Wearside right back Keiron Devlin to 'start again'. The number 2 passed the ball from the right back position back to Smithwhite who sent a probing ball inside which was collected by Wearside's Jamie Dodds who again made a very good accurate pass to Wearside's number 9, Daren Robertson who made no mistake and placed the ball into the back of the Quakers net.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 1 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

Both teams continued to make inroads into each others half of the pitch and again on 15 minutes it was the Wearside team who found themselves on the attack. Wearside's Ryan Smithwhite used his pace to bypass several Quakers players on the right side and played a short pass into the direction of Daren Robertson. This ball was intercepted by a Quakers defender who unfortunately could not control the ball and Wearside's number 10 Dominic Agnew 'stole' the ball and laid it off to the advancing Daren Robertson. Robertson was letting no one stop his advance and he powered his way through several defenders and 'flicked' the ball with the outside of his right boot to score his and Wearside's second goal.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 2 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

Wearside Youth continued to get the upper hand and again on 16 minutes Robertson was set clear by Keiran Devlin and with only the keeper to beat seemed sure to score his hat-trick, however his side footed shot went about two foot over the bar.

Again on 18 minutes Wearside were awarded a throw on the right side of field just short of the Quakers box. The throw in was taken by Ryan Smithwhite to the feet of Jamie Dodds. Dodds passed to Number 11 Tommy Hunt who passed to number 10 Finn Illingworth. Illingworth passed to Dodds who hit the back of the net to make the score Darlington Wearside Youth U13 3 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

That is not to say this was a one sided game. Both teams had their fair share of the ball and both teams mid-field and defence did their teams proud. On 25 minutes a great pass from the Quaker's mid-field found the Quakers forward pacing down on the Wearside goal keeper. The Wearside goal keeper Alex Bates advanced out to cut down the angle and made himself 'big'. The sight of the Wearside goal keeper must have 'distracted' the Quaker's forward as he did not notice Wearside's Keiran Devlin closing in from his right and just as he was kicking the ball Devlin made a great tackle and the ball re-bounded off both players and Bates safely collected the ball.

The Wearside team had most of the play and created some good possession and short passing play. However the Quakers team did not remain 'idle' and on 29 minutes Quakers Liam Wynn chased down a 50/50 ball and from 20 yards unleashed a very powerful shot which headed for the centre of the Wearside goal. A great diving save was executed by the Wearside keeper Alex Bates and he two handed palmed the ball clear to his right which was cleared by a defender.

This was followed by several attempts at the Quakers goal and the athleticism of the Quakers keeper kept the score at 3 - 0 going into half time.

On the re-start the Wearside team again found themselves with the majority of the possession and on 45 minutes Wearside number 5 Thomas Fletcher sent number 12 Jaxon Briggs on a direct path towards the Quakers goal. The Quaker's keeper came off his line to meet the advancing Briggs and dived at his feet to intercept the ball. However in doing so he appeared to foul Briggs and sent him crashing to the ground for what looked like a clear penalty. The ball went clear to the advancing Tommy Hunt in the right corner and the referee 'played the advantage'. Hunt crossed the ball back into the gaol area and this was met by Wearside Ryan Smithwhite who scored Wearside's fourth goal of the game.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 4 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

On 50 minutes Quakers were awarded a free kick from about 35 yards out. The free kick was taken by Quaker's Liam Wynn who opted to go for a direct shot at the Wearside goal. The shot was hard enough and accurate enough to head for the Wearside goal, however Wearside's keeper Bates was alert to the attempt and safely gathered the ball with a good catch.

On 58 minutes again Wearside's Tommy Hunt made an interception of a Quaker's cross field pass deep inside his own half and raced down the right side of the field. Hunt executed a great 30 yard pass into the path of number 12 Jaxon Briggs. Briggs headed in a direct line for goal and made no mistake with a simple 'pass' into the Quakers goal net.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 5 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

On 62 minutes Wearside number 9 Daren Robertson again had a shot at the Quakers goal. The Quakers goal keeper stood tall and the ball rebounded off his body into the feet of Wearside's Ryan Smithwhite who scored Wearside's goal number 6.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 6 - Darlington Quakers 0.

Although trailing 6 - 0 to the deficit Quakers did not 'give up the ghost' and on 68 minutes another Quaker's attack saw the ball deflect off a Wearside defender into the path of Quaker's Liam Wynn. Wynn again had a shot at the goal but again goal keeper Bates was alert for the save.

The final attack of the game on 70 minutes was launched by Wearside and number 11 Tommy Hunt collected the ball on the right side of the Quakers box. Hunt sent the ball to the right corner to Jaxon Briggs. Briggs sent a lovely cross to the feet of number 10 Dominic Agnew who had the simplest shot from about three yards out to end the game at Darlington Wearside Youth U13 7 - Darlington Quakers U13 0.

The 7 - 0 score line does not give a true reflection of the game.

Both teams gave their all and the Quakers forward line was restricted to only a hand full of attempts at the Wearside goal by the organisation and tenacity of the Wearside mid-field and defensive line. Quakers main attack was mounted by Liam Wynn but he was constantly tracked and followed throughout the game by Wearside's Thomas Nesbiatt. The Wearside mid-field was very ably led by Finn Illingworth and on the Wearside flanks Tommy Hunt on the left and Ryan Smithwhite on the right. The strength of Daren Robertson and Jaxon Briggs up front was always a difficult task for the Quakers defence.

At least with two Darlington U13 teams in the final it ensured a Darlington team name will be on the trophy.

This result now sets the Darlington Wearside Youth U13 in good stead going into their Russell Foster U13 (Sunday) Premier league game against Silksworth Youth on Sunday knowing that a draw will be enough to ensure they win the division outright. To add to their success in the Russell Foster U13 League Cup and now the Durham County Cup.