Darlington Women played their first fixture of the New Year on Sunday, but lost 5-4 at Gateshead Leam Rangers.

They got back to 3-3 at one stage, but they gave away some poor goals to gift the home side the points. Chloe Ryan scored a great hat trick, but she finished on the losing side.

Darlington manager Shaun MacKenzie said; “It’s a disappointing start to 2023 and the girls will feel frustrated that they never got anything from the game. But at the end of the day, you can’t concede five goals and expect to get something from a football game. No excuses today, and the girls know that the first half performance was not up to their usual standards. 

“I do feel for the girls as they put everything in to that second half, I can’t question the effort and commitment to get back into the game and we scored some great goals. Chloe Ryan was superb, but we just switched off for a few minutes after the equaliser and lost concentration and the game got away from us and we paid the price. 

“We need to stop giving away soft goals and stop gifting the opposition chances from not clearing our lines properly. We will regroup, pick ourselves up and go again next Sunday in the Quarter Final of the County Cup against high flying Consett.”

Here's the latest league table

https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html;jsessionid=2D612BB4DBE4C6C21F0176400639945F?selectedSeason=548888333&selectedDivision=371387182&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableDay=9&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableMonth=0&ftsTablePageContent.fixtureAnalysisForm.standingsTableYear=2023&activeTab=1

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett:

The game was played on a pitch made heavy by all the overnight rain.

It was a nightmare start to the new year as Darlington were down after 4 minutes with Leam breaking down their right hand side at pace and managing to cut the ball back to the striker who finished well connecting with the ball and keeping it low to give Leam the lead.

Slick passing play was unlikely to be a regular occurrence in what was a constant battle of will and strength in the middle of the park to retain possession. It took 14 minutes for Darlington to get an effort on target with a shot from Chloe Ryan just pushed over the bar.

Darlington were battling and a move which began with a switch of play from Lily Wilkinson allowed some space to attack with the ball being manouevre to the right and driven at goal, the ball was again switched across to find Wilkinson joining the attack and she managed to lift the ball over the keeper for the equaliser.

Darlington were expected to push on but to no avail as the chances just could not be taken and on 37 minutes it was a blow when they were again caught on the counter with the ball being played through the middle and the shot at goal was off the toe of keeper Ellen Atkinson and the ball unfortunately trickled in off the post.

Half time did not improve things for Darlington as on 55 minutes Leam had too much space on their right which allowed a shot at goal which was struck well and flew in over the keeper.

Darlington got one back just 4 minutes later with Chloe Ryan being calm and composed in front of goal getting her first of the game.

On 71 minutes Darlington got their equaliser with a strong run down the left by Wilkinson whose shot was saved and picked up by Olivia Whitworth who held it well to then lay it off for Chloe Ryan to get another.

Darlington were looking strong but a disastrous two minutes allowed Leam to get another two goals with another break through the middle with a low shot to finish and a strong long range effort from a corner put the game out of reach of Darlington.

Further problems on 80 minutes when captain Lou Brown went down injured after jarring her leg after chasing back compounded the bad day.

Two minutes later Darlington got the last goal of the game with Chloe Ryan driving through the middle of the defence and slotting it past the keeper.

The game ended 5-4 to Leam on an all round disappointing day to start the new year and the ever mounting injury list for Darlington is going to make it difficult in the run in until the end of the season.

Player of the match was awarded to Chloe Ryan who led from the front and was clinical in scoring her hat trick. There were also strong performances from Lacey Baldwin and Chloe Bright with Baldwin battling in the centre of midfield and Brights industrious work rate in a number of positions throughout the game.

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 

Caisey Lee

Home: vacant

Away: vacant

Nicole Graham

Home: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Away: Stuart Shanks Painting and Decorating

Management team:

Shaun Mackenzie training kit: John Vickerman

Sam Pascoe training kit: NC Group LTD

Dan Lupu training kit: Vacant

Chris Barrett training kit: Vacant