Quakers Wearside Youth Under 13s 8 Harton and Westoe Youth Under 13s 0

An inspection on the grass pitch at 9am left doubts that the game was playable. However the Darlington coach negotiated with the duty staff and it was agreed that the 4G all weather pitch could be used instead. This proved to be a very astute move as the even and consistent surface of the 4G pitch was ideal for the style of play of the Darlington team. Harton and Westoe team decided to pass the ball in mid- field to give the forwards time to get " up the field". However they were not counting on the quick reaction and explosive pace of the Darlington number 4 Kieron Wakefield who pounced forward and with a great interception he found himself inside the Westoe box. Wakefield was fouled by a Westoe defender and within 2 minutes of the game being kicked off Darlington was awarded a penalty which was duly put away by Wakefield himself. Darlington 1 - Harton and Westoe 0.

The re- start saw Westoe having learned by the costly mistake and they settled down to put some short passing together and they shaped up to look like a decent team. However although Westoe looked like a decent team the Darlington boys decided to 'spoil their party' and soon took charge of the game. It was not that Darlington were more dominant but their passing was quicker and more accurate, they were quicker to intercept and distributed the ball over the whole of the pitch with more confidence and sense of urgency. The few forays into the Darlington half were handled well by the Darlington defence of Kieron Devlin, Tommy Naisbett and Jaxon Briggs and for the majority of the first 15 minutes the Darlington keeper Alex Bates resembled a windmill as he flapped his arms about in the cold day with some snow falling. On the 17 minutes mark the Darlington number 9 Darren Robertson found himself collecting the ball just outside the Westoe box to the left. Robertson crossed the ball into the box and the ball seemed to ghost through the Darlington and Westoe outfield players and glide past the Westoe keeper with no one seeming to attempt a kick at the ball (although the Darlington Captain Dom Agnew said he got a toe to it) the ball settled nicely into the Westoe goal. A more ' surreal' goal you will never see. The reporter gives this goal to Robertson. Darlington 2 - Westoe 0.

At two goals down the Westoe team seemed to come alive and made some decent forays into the Darlington half of the field, only to be thwarted by the steadfast Darlington defence. On the 20 minutes mark a foul by the Darlington defence saw Westoe being awarded a free kick just outside the Darlington box. The resulting free kick was well handled by the Darlington defence but it appeared that Westoe were now giving the Darlington boys a game. The Darlington boys continued to hassle and disrupt the Westoe team and again on 28 minutes Darlington’s Kieron Wakefield collected the ball just outside the Westoe box and his speed and skill saw him slot the ball away for Darlington's third goal. Darlington 3 - Westoe 0.

The re-start saw the same game play with Darlington taking possession of the ball and passing it across the field and on 32 minutes Darlington’s number 8 Finn Illinsworth passed the ball Jamie Dodds to make it Darlington 4 - Westoe 0 as both teams went into the half time break.

The second half started much the same as the first with the Darlington team appearing to be more determined in their tackling and passing of the ball. Again this was rewarded on 47 minutes when Darlington’s number 6 produced a very nice pass into the path of number 14 Ryan Smirthwaite whose accurate pass into the corner of the goal gave the Westoe goal keeper no chance. Darlington 5 - Westoe 0.

Still not giving up and showing some spirit in the cold March air the Westoe forwards made an attack into the Darlington half which on 51 minutes produced a foul on the Westoe number 12 just outside the Darlington box. The free kick was struck over the Darlington wall with some pace but this was confidently handled by the Darlington keeper Alex Bates. In fact this was to be the only shot Westoe had at the Darlington goal the whole game. The Darlington team continued their dominance of the game and on 57 minutes a Westoe defender was judged to have handled the ball inside the box and the resulting penalty was duly put away by Darlington's number 7 Jaimie Gibson. Darlington 6 - Westoe 0.

No sooner had Westoe kicked the ball to re-start the game than it found itself in possession of a Darlington player. The Darlington number 7 Jaimie Gibson crossed the ball with pace into the box and the outstretched leg of Ryan Smirthwaite gave him a deserved hat trick for the day on 58 minutes. Darlington 7 - Westoe 0.

Westoe did not seem to have any answers to the relentless Darlington attacks and on 62 minutes again Darlington's Jaimie Dodds became the provider for Darlingtons Kieron Wakefield to ensure Darlington's dominance ended the game Darlington Wearside Youth U13 - 8. Harton and Westoe U13 - 0.

It may be said that Harton and Westoe were not a 'poor' team ( being fifth in the league) and they tried to produce a passing game. This game was won because of the superior skills of the Darlington team. They passed the ball quicker, were quicker on the attack/ interception and the short and long ball passing was excellent. The defence was steadfast from the goal keeper to the back four to the mid-field. An all round great display of youth football.