Frustrated Darlington were held to a 1-1 draw by Chester-le-Street Amazons in their latest game in the Durham County FA Women’s League at Eastbourne on Sunday.

After Quakers’ early lead was cancelled out, they created and missed some good chances to take the points.

Manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It was a tough one to take. I’ve got a lot of respect for CLS Amazons and they are a good side, but I feel it is two points dropped rather than one point gained. We had enough chances to put the game away, but it just wasn’t our day in front of goal. On another day we could have scored four or five.

“There are positives to take from the game as we kept creating chances, we have been more clinical in the final third this season and I have full faith we will continue to do so this season. The goals will keep coming. We’ve got to pick ourselves up and go to Consett next week in another massive game for the league.”

Here’s the match report by Chris Barrett

Darlington F.C Women 1-1 Chester Le Street Amazons

The game started at a frenetic pace with Amazons clearly coming in to try and grab hold of the game early on by pressing quick with neither team able to settle into any sort of a rhythm.

Darlington had the chances early on with a free kick which was wayward from Hattie Raine and an effort from Chloe Ryan who fashioned some space in the centre of the box when the ball dropped in for a strike on goal but it was well saved by the keeper.

On 13 minutes, Darlington took the lead when it looked like the play would be stopped due to a Darlington injury but the ref played advantage with Darlington just inside the Amazons box, the ball came to Hattie Raine who was to the right of the goal but was at a narrow angle however she was able to smash it into the roof of the net for the lead.

This did not deter Amazons who were winning the battles in the middle for the high balls and were relentless in maintaining the pressure and were able to keep pressure on the Darlington defence throughout the first half. On the 24th minute, Amazons had a corner and loose marking allowed the ball to be headed at goal which was a high looping header out of the reach of Ellen Atkinson to give Amazons their equaliser.

Both teams were struggling to get the patterns of play together and were reliant on counter attacks to take advantage of the open spaces.

Nicole Graham had a strong run on the 29th minute breaking down the left from the half way line and getting into the box beating a number of players but was unable to convert this into a clear effort on goal.

Amazons continued with their attacks targeting the left hand side but the pace of Chloe Bright was key in being able to keep up with the overlap runs and had a very good showing cutting out the though balls down the left.

Darlington were close to another goal when Katie Sheridan picked up the ball in the middle of the park and drove forward into space before striking the ball sweetly to the right of goal from distance but the keeper made a superb save to keep it out.

Just before half time Amazons had another chance which had Atkinson scrambling as a shot from outside the box just whistled past the post. There was still time in the half for another effort from Graham coming in from the left unleashing a strike that just pinged back out off the post.

There was more Darlington pressure in the second half as they took more of a control of the game but they were unable to create clear chances by breaking through the Amazons back line.

Darlington were still vulnerable from the counter and they managed to break through the defensive line but strong pressure from Alice Wearmouth forced the striker to put the shot wide.

On 65 minutes there were shouts for an Amazons penalty but it was strong shielding from Bright who managed to get in front of her player to retrieve the ball.

There was a great chance for Darlington when Lily Wilkinson played a sublime cross field pass into the path of Raine who pulled it back across the box but the shot from Graham was lifted over the bar.

Amazons again managed to get into the box on the 76th minute with a ball through a tight gap and after the shot was hit the Amazons player was caught late and Darlington were fortunate not to concede a penalty.

The post was hit again on the 80th minute this time from the Amazons with a fairly tame effort that caught most by surprise and flew past Atkinson which again pinged off the inside of the post but it was thankfully cleared away.

Darlington again went close on the 84th minute with the ball again played into the box this time to be met by Wilkinson but it was struck just over the bar.

The teams persevered but neither could break through and the game finished a draw. Darlington will be disappointed dropping two points but probably a fair result as there was a lack of clinical finishing on both sides.

Darlington stayed strong through the centre with Chloe Tinkler making a number of key blocks and Katie Sheridan consistently picking up the ball and progressing it through the thirds. Player of the match was awarded to Emma Carter who allowed very little through the Darlington left whilst helping to cover across the back line and was a constant outlet to help build play from the back.

Darlington face another tough task as they will be playing Consett this Sunday hoping to take points off the high flyers to help push on up the league.

Here's the latest league table:

https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html;jsessionid=9130082A1E9ACBB891062F9286C2B201?selectedSeason=548888333&selectedDivision=371387182&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableDay=20&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableMonth=0&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableYear=2023&activeTab=1

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

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