Darlington Reserves 8 Annfield Plain 1

The reserves had their best ever result when they thumped Annfield Plain 8-1 in the Wearside League at Eastbourne on Saturday.

The visitors had no answer to the reserves’ terrific attacking play, with Nathan Stephenson unstoppable with four, and Joey Smith scoring a hat trick and Joey Beauchamp the other.

[caption id="attachment_35830" align="alignnone" width="240"] Nathan Stephenson[/caption]

Joint manager Mark Fanning said; “It was a good performance, but believe it or not, we have played better this season! It was one of those days in which everything Nathan hit went in, and we had more than enough for Annfield Plain. I don’t think any keeper would have been able to stop two of Nathan’s goals, they were both superbly executed.”

The lads are up to fifth place in the Wearside League table now, just two points off the top of the table. Their next game is against Stokesley this Saturday at Eastbourne, kick off 2pm.

Quakers took the lead on 22 minutes when Nathan Stephenson charged down a clearance by the Plain keeper and the ball rebounded off him into the net, and then Joey Beauchamp dispossessed a defender and slotted the ball home.

[caption id="attachment_35831" align="alignnone" width="240"] Joey Beauchamp[/caption]

Joey Smith finished off a good move to make it 3-0, and after Plain pulled a goal back, Smith added a fourth before half time.

Soon after half time it was 5-1 when Smith crossed for Stephenson to head in, then Stephenson fired a 25 yarder into the top corner from a Beauchamp assist for his hat trick.

Stephenson bettered that with another 25 yarder for 7-1 and to finish the scoring, he set up Smith to score the eighth.

[caption id="attachment_35832" align="alignnone" width="240"] Joey Smith[/caption]

The reserves next game is at home to Stokesley on Saturday, kick off 2pm.