Darlington Wearside Youth Under 13 8 HFC Blues United 0

With Harton Bulldogs having two wins in the last week this game was crucial to win to return Darlington Wearside to the top of the Russell Foster U13 (Sunday) Premier league.

Darlington Wearside Youth started quickly and were soon on the attack. Their pace and style of play created all manner of problems for the HFC team and on 5 minutes an attack inside the HFC box resulted on a foul on a Darlington player. The referee awarded a penalty.

The penalty was taken by Darlington's Dominic Agnew who duly put the ball into the back of the HFC net.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 1 - HFC Blues United 0.

On 9 minutes HFC were awarded a free kick from 20 yards. The free kick was rolled along the ground to an HFC forward who shot over the bar.

On 13 minutes there was a foul on Darlington's Dominic Agnew. Agnew took the free kick which went just wide of the HFC goal.

Darlington then started to control this game. On 20 minutes Darlington were awarded a throw in. The throw in was taken on the left of play, the ball was spread across the field to Jaxon Briggs, Briggs passed to Dominic Agnew, Agnew passed from mid field to Tommy Hunt on the right of the box. Hunt took a shot at goal which was saved by the HFC goal keeper.

HFC did not seem to have a strong kicker in their team and most goal kicks or clearances from the box only travelled just outside of their box.

The Darlington team recognised this and were ready to challenge in these areas. It was as a result of a poor clearance that on 24 minutes the ball was kicked back into the HFC box only for the goal keeper to knock it wide for a corner. The corner was taken by Jaxon Briggs who sent a high ball into the HFC goal mouth. Darlington's Daren Robertson jumped above the HFC defence and headed a powerful goal.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 2 - HFC Blues United 0.

HFC tried to play a passing game and appeared comfortable on the ball however their skill level, ball control and general awareness was not at the same standard as the Darlington team.

Because of this difference in skill levels the Darlington team passed the ball over the whole pitch with confidence and made several attempts to increase the score line. HFC were kept in the game by getting numbers into their box and some good work by their keeper.

The game reached half time with the score line of Darlington Wearside Youth U13 2 - HFC Blues United 0.

On the re-start the Darlington team again took control of the game.

They passed with their usual confidence and spread the ball across the pitch and back to their keeper.

The HFC tactics by this time was that when Darlington were in possession of the ball they (HFC) would rush back to crowd their box.

Darlington bided their time and made several attempts at the HFC goal.

On 35 minutes Goal Keeper Alex Bates passed to Jamie Gibson who passed from defence to Daren Robertson in mid field. Robertson passed to Finn Illingworth on the right. Illingworth passed to Lucas Reed who sent the ball high into the HFC box where it was sent just over the bar by Jaxon Briggs.

The resulting goal kick only reached about 25 yards and this was received by Daren Robertson who laid the ball off to Jaxon Briggs. Briggs made a direct straight line run into the center of the HFC box and 'picked his spot'. Briggs 'passed' the ball into the HFC goal for Darlington's third goal on 37 minutes.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 3 - HFC Blues United 0.

The long ball kicking from both teams was not helped by the fact that there was no 'bounce' in the pitch.

On 45 minutes Darlington were again awarded a free kick from just inside the half way line.

Dominic Agnew took the free kick and passed to Ryan Smithwhite. Smithwhite passed to Daren Robertson who laid the ball to the feet of the on-coming Dominic Agnew. Agnew struck the ball from 35 yards out with a thunder-ball of a shot which was headed no where except the back of the HFC net.

Darlington Wearside Youths U13 4 - HFC Blues United 0.

Again on the re-start by HFC Jaxon Briggs was very quick to re-act and he stole the ball off the HFC forward and made another direct line for the HFC goal. Briggs danced through several outstretched HFC boots and made sure of Darlington's fifth goal on 46 minutes.

Darlington Wearside Youths U13 5 - HFC Blues United 0.

Again on 55 minutes Lucas Reed sent a 20 yard ball along the ground into the HFC box. The ball was collected by Daren Robertson who's shot was saved by the HFC keeper's feet. However the re-bound again fell to Robertson who made sure with his second shot.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 6 - HFC Blues United 0.

On 67 minutes some close play on the edge of the HFC box saw Jamie Gibson pass to Tommy Hunt. Hunt passed a short ball off to Finn Illingworth and ran towards to HFC goal. Illingworth attempted a shot at goal which was parried by the HFC keeper into the air. Hunt was quickest to re-act and headed a simple ball for goal number 7.

Darlington Wearside Youth U13 7 - HFC Blues United 0.

To round off the end of the game on 69 minutes a free kick taken by Finn Illingworth was sent to Jamie Gibson who passed the ball to Lucas Reed who made no mistake and also got his name on the score sheet.

The game ended Darlington Wearside Youth U13 8 - HFC Blues United 0.