Darlington Women are now up to third in the Durham County FA Womens League table after Sophie Curle scored four in a 5-2 home win over Gateshead Leam Rangers on a special day at Blackwell Meadows.

The club decided to stage the game at Blackwell Meadows, and a magnificent crowd of 272 people turned up to watch a very entertaining game, played in a great spirit by both clubs.

Darlington are still unbeaten in the league this season after nine matches, and the players were given a huge cheer at the final whistle.

Sophie has now scored 22 goals in nine league matches this season -- a phenomenal strike rate!

This is what manager Shaun MacKenzie thought about the game:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/womens-boss-shaun-what-a-great-day

Here’s the match report from Chris Barrett

A momentous day for Darlington Women’s team as they returned to league action whilst making their debut appearance at Blackwell Meadows.

The game started with both teams showing nerves and Darlington unable to build any rhythm whilst battling in the middle to keep hold of possession. A few minor chances came early in the game but no clear chances carved out from either team.

There was an injury concern for Aimee Dagnall as she took a blow to the mouth meaning she had to go off temporarily due to a blood injury. The first chance came for Leam when they broke through the middle and drove to the left of the box but Martina Cuccunato came out quick to smother the ball for a good save.

The first goal followed not long after, on 21 minutes, Leam again broke down the left hand side and with quick feet Coulson created space and fired into the roof of the net. Darlington recovered to create a half chance for Emma Doudican but after breaking through she lifted the ball just over the bar.

Leam broke through again after 37 minutes but there was another brave stop from Cuccunato to keep Leam at bay.

A minute later Darlington were back in the game when a good ball over the top from Doudican was played through to Sophie Curle who drove into the box from the right and with a deft finish clipped the ball past the keeper. 

After 44 minutes, Darlington had a free kick in their own half played long but it was only partially cleared and the ball fell to Curle who again drove into the box using her pace to get past the defenders and then placed the ball in the bottom corner to take a 2-1 lead into half time.

The second half Darlington did not get out the blocks and after a foul on Dagnall was not given Leam got the ball on the right and played it low across the box for Foster to turn the ball in at the back post.

Darlington could have faltered further but after 51 minutes they took the lead again when a Leam goal kick ended up at the feet of Curle who broke through and with another composed finish put the ball into the corner to retake the lead, 3-2 Darlo.

Darlington had more chances but could not capitalise. On 57 minutes, Leam broke through the middle and it took a last ditch sliding tackle from Natalie Peart to steal the ball back. Ten minutes later after some hesitation, the ball came through the middle again and this time it was Alice Wearmouth who had to use her pace to chase back and snatch the ball away from the striker to keep Leam out and getting the equaliser. 

On 85 minutes, Darlington extended the lead when Curle picked up the ball and drove across the box to then lay it off for Hattie Raine who fired home to make it 4-2 and score her first goal in front of the famous Tin Shed stand. 

Darlington finished strong and it was fitting that one of the last actions of the game was another goal from player of the match Curle. A free kick from Wearmouth was flicked on by Doudican to Curle who again finished well to make it 5-2 in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season.

It was a morale boosting win with the whole squad putting on a professional and battling performance which also included debuts for Lily Large and Katie Sheridan. Darlington will be looking to continue their league run into the new year and continue pushing up the league. Today’s win sees them jump from 7th to 3rd in the league table with a superior goal difference over Birtley and Tow Law who are on the same 21 points. That’s now 9 unbeaten for the Quaker Women in the league.

STARTING XI

Cuccunato, Lee, Wearmouth, Peart, Carter, Upton (c) ,Dagnall, Doudican, Bright, Raine, Curle 

Substitutes: Atkinson, Frew, Padurariu, Garnett, Whitworth, Sheridan & Large 

Full time Result: 

Darlington FC Women 5-2 Gateshead Leam Rangers Women 

1-0 Leam - 21’

1-1 Darlington - Curle - 37’

2-1 Darlington - Curle - 44’

2-2 Leam - 46’

3-2 Darlington - Curle - 51’

4-2 Darlington - Raine - 85’

5-2 Darlington - Curle - 90’

We’d like to thank the following

The game was sponsored by DAFTS

The matchball sponsor was the NC Group

The logistics sponsors were Dawn Fire Safety and Ingelton Site Management.

We'd also like to thank the Mayor of Darlington, Cyndi Hughes, and the leader of Darlington Council, Heather Scott, for attending.

And we'd also like to thank Darlington Rugby Club for the use of their facilities.

We’d like to thank the following kit sponsors:

Hattie Raine (sponsored by Krystal Sells), Emma Carter (The Cheese and Wine Shop), Emma Doudican (Winroths Hairdressers), Sarah Frew (Chic Beauty Academy), Martina Cuccunato (Premier 1 Filtration), Caisey Lee (Engage to Learn), Olivia Whitworth (Terry Farley MBE), Sophie Curle (Franks Carpets), Natalie Peart (RA Dalton Ltd), Toni Upton (Dawn Fire Safety), Alice Wearmouth (Direct Flooring), Chloe Bright (Jordan Hanratty Personal Training),  Chloe Tinkler (Glen and Mary Bowes), Millie Garnett (eco Hair Salon), Aimee Dagnall (Andrew Scullion), Gabrielle Padurianu (John Vickerman).