Darlington Women finished their season with a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Gateshead Rutherford on Sunday.

Nevertheless, they’ve still had a great season, and without injuries to several key players, they would surely have finished in a better placing than fifth. They might even still win promotion to the next level.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It’s always a disappointing way to end a season with a loss, but it summed up our season really. We started slow and I know I keep saying it, but you can’t afford to give away a 3-0 lead before you start playing. It’s something we’ve got to eradicate from our game if we are to challenge next season. Full credit to Rutherford for coming out so fast and scoring some well worked goals. 

“Once we woke up, we played some decent football at times and both goals we scored were good goals. I’m happy for Hattie Raine to get her 20 goals this season after scoring 17 last year and those goals put her at the top of the all time scoring list. I couldn’t have asked for much more in the second half, we penned them in and created the chances to get the equaliser and possibly even win the game, but it wasn’t to be. 

“We will now have a few weeks off after what has felt like a very long season with the cup runs and we come back for pre season and go again.” 

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett:

It was a disaster start for Darlington with Rutherford winning the ball from the off and breaking quick down the left with plenty of space to cross the ball to the far post and it was headed in to give them a lead in the first minute.

Darlington didn’t settle and it was another early goal after 4 minutes with a ball played through the middle over the top for the striker to latch on to and there was enough space for a free shot and Darlington were duly punished. Darlington finally got a foothold in the game and started to win the ball but were still looking uncomfortable knocking the ball long trying to relieve the pressure but unable to build up the play.

It took until the 20th minute before Darlington got an effort and it was a long range effort from Leanne Mulligan but it went just wide. Darlington looked more assured after the drinks break and managed an effort from Aimee Dagnall but it lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

As Darlington pushed on they were caught out and it was again a high ball over the top as the ball drifted over the defence and the striker broke through to catch it on the half volley to fire it home for a 3-0 lead.

It was disappointing as Darlington had managed to start to play better football and looked to be more of the dominant side for a spell. On 43 minutes, Darlington got a goal back with a ball played through by Sara Waites with Hattie Raine racing to meet it before the keeper and she just managed it to get there first and lifted the ball over the keeper’s head for it to drop in to make it 3-1.

Darlington came close just before the break with a long free kick from Mulligan to the back post and it just missed the head of Waites at the back post. Darlington came out still pressing after the half time break and Nicole Graham came close after breaking down the left and cutting in but the keeper was equal to her shot.

On 54 minutes, it was impact sub, Graham again breaking down the left hand side this time feeding it into Raine who cut in to beat the defender and she drilled the ball low and hard and it nestled into the bottom corner for another Darlington goal and 2-3.

The fresh legs of the half time substitutions was helping Darlington keep the pressure on with the high intensity and they came close again when Graham made a run down the left and from the byline cut the ball back across the 6 yard line which was turned onto the post and then out by the defender.

Rutherford again came close this time from a corner deep to the back post which was headed just wide. On the 74th minute, Raine was though again and was one on one with the keeper and she managed to lift the ball over but could not chase after it as she was taken out by the goalkeeper but to everyone’s surprise, no penalty was awarded. Darlington continued with the attacks with most of the success coming from the left hand side and Raine worked space on the left side of the box to cut it back for Emily Taylor who stretched to get the shot on goal but it was well saved. Taylor got the ball back for another effort on goal but was denied by a great block from the covering defender.

Darlington continued to push but to no avail and the game ended in defeat. The disaster start gave the team too much to do but it was a spirited effort in the come back. Player of the match was awarded to Toni Upton giving a captain’s performance, showing determination and willingness to put her body on the line for the team on numerous occasions.

It was a frustrating end to disappointing season with a number of key players missing for large parts of the season but with the mid season arrivals and players from long term injuries returning, the future looks promising for the team and they will be looking to push high in the league next season.

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