Darlington Youth Under 12s 1 Billingham 3

Billingham with this win just about confirmed themselves league champions and left Darlington in second place but still looking good for the other promotion place!!

Billingham with a strong wind in their favour scored a good individual goal on 15 minutes then went two up when a Darlington clearance smacked their own player and flew past our keeper giving him no chance 2-0 half time.

The second half was a much better half for Darlo. With the wind now in their favour they pressed and looked for a goal. Billingham only looked a threat with long punts up field to their giant striker but Darlo controlled him well and were pressing throughout the half, with Clark solid at back and Jojo running the centre of the park and also the hard working diamond causing problems. Darlo with 15 minutes left looked like they were back in the game as Diamond rounded the keeper but was pulled back and Darlo had a penalty!!

Callum Moncur who has scored a few this year stepped up but unfortunately the keeper dived to his right and pushed it away for a corner still 2-0 Darlo didn't give up and kept pressing to their credit but with 7 minutess left a counter attack led to the Billingham striker breaking away and smashing a shot past the unlucky Fynn in goal 3-0.

Darlo went straight back at Billingham and still not giving in, were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after good work by Diamond and Moncur still angry at missing the crucial penalty smashed the free kick into the top corner 3-1. There were 5 minutes left and Darlo still give it their best shot and a good effort from Keating was saved by the keeper then another cross from Crumpton wasn't met by anyone as Darlo were tired and Billingham held out strong at the back.

Congratulations to Billingham who have been strong all season to win the league but this was Darlo’s second defeat of season and the lads now have three games left and need two wins out of three to guarantee a much-deserved promotion into div 1!!

MoTM was Jamie Diamond for a tireless effort up front and always dangerous in and around the box.