Here's a round up of how our youth teams fared last weekend in the Russell Foster Youth League and the Teesside Junior Football Alliance League.

Because of FA rules, we're unable to publish the results of any matches involving Under 11s and below.

U17 Boys

Today was not a great day at the office for the U17s!  What started off so brightly and controlling the game saw us score after 4 mins.  We controlled the game and were 3-0 up by the 29 min.  31st minute saw it go 3-1 to which it stayed till the 56 min and saw New Marske pull it to 3-2.  Sloppy defending, Ill discipline and running the play was the theme in the second half.  Not helped by the pitch (ice rink) and rain but we ground it out and came out eventual winners 5-3.

Things to work on and the 3 points as well as still being unbeaten in the league is all that matters!

⚽️⚽️ Raphael Oppong

⚽️ Maciej Nuprejczyk

⚽️ Own goal

⚽️Harry Hodgson

🏆PoM Jake Patterson

U16 Boys

Darlington FC U16s 3 - 1 Darlington RA

The first town derby of the season saw us come out worthy winners in a fairly comfortable victory on a slippery pitch that worsened through the game.

After last week’s top of the table victory, the home side were full of confidence going into the match against opponents they know well and were determined to beat.

The opening 10 minutes were tight as the players acclimatised to the pitch and conditions. Ethan McLoughlin glanced Dylan’s angled free kick into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot to make it 1-0. This swung the game in Darlington’s favour and they never relinquished control. Finn Talbot continued his excellent recent form as he got himself in a great position inside the box with a bursting run before slamming home. Lennons tricky wing play sending defenders flying every which ways; crossing drilled ball that bounced off a player into Finn’s grateful path.

The 2-0 HT scoreline could have been greater with more late chances in the half.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first as RA tried to claw their way into the game. Other than forcing Noah Graves into an acrobatic save from a long range effort, the away side offered little genuine threat on goal despite increased possession. Darlington, recognizing the deterioration of the central areas of the pitch, forced the ball wide with regularity to utilise the wingbacks. The tiring RA defence couldn’t cope with the speed and directness of the home side and the third goal followed. Ollie Watson scoring his first goal for the club after a winter transfer. A neat first touch and cool finish put the game beyond doubt; Charlie Canning with a beautifully timed through ball assist.

With 10 minutes to go the away side countered from a home attacking corner, racing up the field and finishing smartly. Darlington comfortably saw the match through and were worthy winners. Another terrific battling team performance to defeat a local rival. Brilliant! 💪🏼⚽️

⚽️ Ethan Mcloughlin

⚽️ Finn Talbot

⚽️ Ollie Watson

⭐️ Luis Atkinson - A Rolls Royce performance at centre back.

Match sponsors: Claire Hogg Mortgages and Protections Ltd.

U15 Boys

Washington 1 v Darlington 2

2nd v 1st today, and what a story unfolded.

Both sides missed chances, and both keepers were in top form, meaning it looked like this would end goalless.

3 minutes from time however Kieran’s cross found Rodgey at the far post who slid home what looked like the winner.

Unfortunately 1 minute into injury time we conceded and it looked like being a draw.

We won a corner from the restart, and Matty put in a beauty which Paddy rose well for to head home the winner 3 minutes into added time.

Cue absolute scenes!!!

Not a great performance truth be told, but a big win which puts us 3 points clear with 2 games in hand.

Goals:

Rodgey ⚽️

Paddy ⚽️

MOM: Kalvin 🏆

Sponsored by:

Support Solutions UK and Bristol St Motors

 U11 Boys

Boro Rangers Blues Vs. Darlington

It was a good team performance today. Playing on a good surface definitely helps our way of playing and today we were able to pass the ball with confidence on what is a brand new 3G facility. The boys dictated play for large spells of the game. We got back to passing the football patiently starting with some good build up play from the back by Kian who was faultless today. Not the result we were after but it was a positive display nevertheless and it was good to see the boys wanting to get on the ball and play. We had plenty of good chances to score but unluckily we were unable direct the ball into the net. The blues goal was from a direct free kick following an infringement in a wide area. It was a shot which dipped perfectly into the far top corner summing up our luck. It came from 1 of only 2 attempts on target all game due to our endeavours in the outfield. The boys enjoyed the game and are looking forward for more of the same next week.

POTM: KH

Sponsored by:

First Class Learning

The Cross Keys (Gainford)

U11 Boys Friendly match

Marton FC Royal U11.  Vs  Darlington FC Quakers

What a great game of football our boys played today!!

After a slow start finding ourselves 3 down we regrouped and we then started to grow in confidence in the game and we started to cause our opponents many problems and it could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for their goal keeper who was really quick off his line playing like a sweeper, the ball just didn’t drop short enough for our forwards to run on to, nevertheless our passing  and link up play was absolutely brilliant today and is improving all the time.

Our boys finished the half off really strongly and grabbed a goal back we were so unlucky not to grab another goal just before HT.

Second Half

To have a draw in that second half against a established Premier league Marton side just shows our boys development is improving massively individually and also as a team.

Player of the match today

R Parker - He was Outstanding today 🔥

U10 Boys

FC Hartlepool v Darlington FC Quakers

Tough game for the boys today on a sapping pitch against a well organised and physical team. In a game of few chances we manage to take the lead in the first half and comfortably see out the game.

With a little more urgency and composure we could maybe have grabbed a couple more goals but all in all a good result and we move on to the next game in good form.

U10 Boys

Darlington FC Quakers v Pass Soccer

Goals:  JN9, FC10, NP7, IT8

A good performance this morning from the boys who were at it right from the first whistle. Although we dominated it took us a little while to break the deadlock. A lovely passing move broke Pass’ stubborn defence with JJ11 finding JN9 in the box and the striker finishing well to open the scoring.

We made broke a well organised defence again not long after with a great turn and through ball from IT8 producing the chance for FC10 to race on to the ball and put the ball past the onrushing GK.

Just before half time we conceded a sloppy goal just before half time to take a slender lead in to the second half.

The boys continued their dominance and got their rewards thanks to good work again from JJ11 to find NP7 who drilled the ball low past the GK. We finished off the game late on thanks to IT8’s quick reaction following a freekick,  picking up the second ball and finishing well.

U10 Boys

Darlington FC Feethams v Pools Youth Blues

Due to rearranged fixtures this was a 3rd game in 4 days for the Darlington boys, tired legs coupled with a heavy pitch & squally conditions meant this was going to be a game where character was needed more than ever.

Darlington started brightly, quickly forcing a turnover of play which set ZH off on a trademark run down the left wing, beating his man and pulling the ball back to SW at the back post to calmly slot away the opener.

From there Darlington controlled possession but couldn’t break Hartlepool down, too often the ball getting held up in midfield without being able to release a player through on goal, before the ball eventually broke to HS to score a deserved second just before 1/2 time.

The 2nd 1/2 started in much the same way, with the ball too often being turned over in the middle of the park due to the heavy pitch & some poor decision making at key times. With Darlington believing there were more goals to had, Pools Youth were looking for counter attacks and their direct style got their striker in on goal on a number of occasions, with NH having to be alert and making more than one world class save to protect his clean sheet.

A further Darlington goal came from JB, after some great work from SB breaking from defence and getting to the edge of the box before squaring the ball for a tap in to an empty net.

SW then wrapped the goals up before NH pulled off the save of the game, getting his fingertips to a close range effort that was destined for the bottom corner. With nothing coming from the resulting corner the referee blew his whistle on a game that wasn’t Darlington best but keeps a good run of form going.

MOTM - NH

MATCH KIT SPONSOR - Andy Bruce

U7 Boys

We got the opportunity to give everyone a game today without having to rely on the development game.  The 5 boys who started were excellent and played a very strong first quarter.

 For the team to be able to deal with all the changes and still get through the game with a comfortable win shows how well all the boys are all doing.

The coaches thought that OR deserved player of the match today everything he did was really good, he held the shape well for the team, picked out the right passes at the right times and scored a goal. Other goal scorers were SM and OM 2

The players picked FL for their player of the match who did great in defence today, he made some great tackles and distributed the ball well to get us out of trouble.

 U18 Girls

Hartlepool pools youth 3 - 1 Darlington FC

Tough game against a good attacking team and we turned out with the bare 11. An even game for the first half but Hartlepool getting the better of it taking a chance midway through and another just before HT. Second half and we battled back hard and we’re the better footballing team this half but unfortunately just wasn’t our day with a few absences in the team.

Good game of football from both teams

Scorer:

Lily W ⚽️

POTM:

Charlie M ⭐️

Sponsor

Zyrofisher

U14 GIRLS QUAKERS -  HOME WIN

Darlington Quakers 2-0 Stockton Town F.C

A result and 3 points that have been coming for a few weeks now with good recent performances. Darlington started the game well and played some good football, trying to keep the ball on the floor and were rewarded for their efforts with a Madeline Gleghorn goal, who finished well at the back post. Stockton were always in the game and came at us in the second half, keeping us penned in our own half, our keeper Erin and the back 4 defended everything that was thrown at them and managed to keep a deserved clean sheet. The winner was scored 5 minutes from time with a great delivery from Amber Holt and deft right foot finish from Grace Dobson to secure a big 3 points.

POTM: Holly N ⭐️

Goalscorers:

Madeline G x1 ⚽️

Grace D x1 ⚽️

Sponsored by Hayley Liddle at Bespoke Financial and Howell Cummings Joinery

U14 Girls

Hartlepool Pools Youth U14 Girls Vs Darlington FC Feethams U14 Girls

Today we conceded an early goal which came out of absolute out nowhere and left us all scratching our heads as our Pre match team talk was blown straight out the water!

That was the kick start our girls needed though and we levelled with a cooly taken penalty by Anna C and then three further girls with an absolutely outstanding first half performance by our Striker

Chloe S, the opposition just could not live with her we just didn’t want the half to end as we ran in at HT 2-4

HT

At HT we spoke to the girls about not taking our feet off the gas and finishing the game off early, but unfortunately we suffered a couple of injuries and we lost our shape and that gave our opponents encouragement and a foot hold back into the game and they clawed a goal back, we spoke to the team during the game as  Hartlepool were resorting to long ball tactics with long ball after long ball and they utilised the very windy conditions to their favour, then unfortunately Hartlepool did equalised towards the end of the game which was absolutely gutting for us and as the final whistle blew it really felt like we had just lost the game.

Gutted was an understatement but massive learning was taken from the game today for our team and us as coaches.

A fantastic game for the neutrals

But definitely not great for us as coaches. 😩

Hartlepool 4-4 Darlington

POM Chloe S 🔥

Goals

Anna C ⚽️

Chloe S ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Sponsor

Luxury Bed Company

Sofa And Bed Discount Warehouse

U11 Girls

Darlington FC u11s Quakers Vs Consett AFC Firestars

The girls started brightly and were ahead with the first attack of the game. The girls were great 1st half and were soon further ahead. Great team goal for the next passing and moving spreading the ball to both wings was a joy to watch. Increased the lead again with the next attack but a dogged Consett side dug in and played out the 1sr half really well and a wave of subs made the game a little stop start.

2nd half was a great effort with a load of subs from ourselves got all the girls good playing time, but carried on with the same intensity of harassing the opposition and scoring another 3 second half was a joy with people playing in different positions than they would normally which was great to see.

Ran out comfortable winners in the end against a good Consett side with a couple of outstanding players.

Some of the passing and moving today was a real joy to watch. Runs off the ball that create space and chances for people to move into was unselfish and great to see. Great performance all around.

#UTD ⚫⚪⚽

PoM- Paige

Sponsor TAK Therapies

U9 Girls

Darlington F.C v Hartlepool F.C Reds

A tough game with a few players missing today but all the girls battled to the end!

Well done to LH for soldering on and playing, even though she wasn’t well to make up the numbers. And a big thanks to SG for playing goal. The girls kept working hard and were rewarded with a well worked goal. Thanks to Hartlepool for the game and we look forward to playing them at their place.

POTM: Thea R ⭐️

Sponsored by Brinkburn Domestics and Imperial Recruitment Group