Our Women’s team got off to a poor start and paid the price when they were beaten 3-2 at home by Birtley on Sunday.

They were 3-0 down by half time, and a second half fightback wasn’t enough to earn a point.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “A disappointing result in what was a really big game for us. We can’t keep giving away 2-3 goal leads and expecting to recover and get back in the game. We gifted a couple of the goals and it’s always going to be hard to get back into a game in this league as teams are organised. 

“The positives are that we did recover and scored some good goals of our own and on another day might have got that equaliser. It’s very frustrating as the desire and passion was shown once we were behind and needed to get back in the game, but it’s too late. We need to show it from minute 1 one and get up for these games from the start. We’ve still got six games to play this season and need to be up for every single one of them and take as many points as we can.”

Match Report from Chris Barrett

It was not a strong start for Darlington and they were behind after 5 minutes, they conceded a free kick on the right hand side just outside the box. It was floated over to the back post and a Birtley player was not marked, which allowed them time to meet the ball and half volley the ball back across goal and into the net.

Darlington did get into the game after this and it was Sara Waites who was dominating the midfield firing a shot just over after some nice play building up to the shot. After 15 minutes, she had another go with a quick counter but the shot was fired at the goalkeeper. After 20 minutes there was a shot from distance by Birtley and it looked as if the keeper had it but it was unfortunately spilled and bounced just over the line to double Birtley’s lead.

Just after the half hour mark it was 3 to Birtley when Darlington failed to hold onto the ball in the middle and it was quickly shifted out wide to the right and it was struck low and hard back across goal into the bottom corner.

Darlington were lacking a clinical edge and it was showing with not enough composure in the final third. With the half drawing to a close, the ball was received on the left by Chloe Ryan who turned in and instinctively shot and lifted it over the keepers head with a lovely lobbed effort.  

The second half was quite an open affair with both teams looking to attack and relying on the defences to keep calm and cut out the threats. On 64 minutes, the hard work from Chloe Ryan paid off when she chased the defence down to win the ball in the final third and pulled it across the box for Nicole Graham to take a touch and slot it in past the keeper.

Darlington continued to press on looking  for the equaliser, there were good efforts from Lacey Baldwin and Ryan but they could not be converted. Birtley were still dangerous and it took a fine stop from Evie Whittaker getting down low to keep the ball out from a low shot in the bottom left corner. It was more bad injury news for Darlington as Sara Waites landed badly appearing to twist her ankle and needed to be taken off. 

Darlington continued to work to create the openings but they could not find a way through and Birtley managed the final period of the game well to get the win.

A disappointing result and more injury worries with Darlington still to get through a number of games before the end of the season. Player of the match was awarded to Sara Waites who before the injury was a real driving force in the midfield, linking the play up well getting forward and back to support. Darlington now have a weekend off for Easter before they are back in action on Sunday 16th April at home to Chester Le Street Utd Reserves, looking to get players back and points on the board.

Here's the league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html?league=901345664&selectedSeason=85293540&selectedDivision=371387182&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_97264698

We'd like to thank the following kit sponsors

Ellen Atkinson:

Home: LW & GM Atkinsons & Son

Away: Harker Coaches

Evie Whittaker: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Premier One Filtration

Emma Carter:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology)

Alice Wearmouth:

Home: Direct Flooring 

Away: SMS Tech (Smart Manufacturing Solutions Technology) 

Lou Brown:

Home: Saddington Taylor LTD

Away: vacant

Gabi Paduriaru:

Home: David Stothard

Away: Colin Bromley

Millie Garnett:

Home: Eco Hair Salon

Away: Phil's Fine Finishes

Lily Large:

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation  

Away: Vacant 

Chloe Tinkler: 

Home: Steve Halliday

Away: Brinkburn Pub

Chloe Bright: 

Home: Jordan Hanratty Personal Training 

Away: Active Kids Play Scheme

Toni Upton

Home: Dawn Fire Safety 

Away: Dawn Fire Safety

Emma Doudican 

Home: Winroths Hairdressing  

Away: Winroths Hairdressing 

Olivia Whitworth

Home: Terry Farley MBE

Away: Vacant 

Aimee Dagnall 

Home: Andrew Scullion

Away: Vacant

Hattie Raine: 

Home: Thomas Watson Auctioneers 

Away: Thomas Watson Auctioneers 

Katie Sheridan: 

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation 

Away: Ingleton Site Management LTD

Lacey Baldwin: 

Home: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Away: Lineside Fencing NE Ltd 

Chloe Ryan: 

Home: Arthur Wharton Foundation

Away: The Little Quaker Distillery 

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Leanne Mulligan:

Home and away: Stockton Town Rugby Club

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Assistant manager training kit: NC Group LTD

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant