Darlington TSC 0 Darlington FC Youth U14 4

Away kit kindly sponsored by MCC Utilities Limited

Darlington Youth again donned their away strips for the short trip to Darlington TSC.

Unlike most matches, Darlington started slowly, struggling to keep possession, their opponents closing them down quickly, forcing the visitors to rush things and make mistakes. For much of the first twenty minutes, things were end to end.

Having said that Darlington FC Youth were the ones creating the more promising openings, Liam Wynn, Kieran Longstaff and Ollie Johnson all going close. At the other end Alex Mason and Kian Slater at the heart of the defence coped with much that was thrown at them.   As the half wore on the lads began to find their feet a little more, becoming a threat down both flanks, Ollie Johnson and Kieran Longstaff buzzing about causing havoc in the last third of the pitch. It was Ollie who broke the deadlock using his pace to cut in and place a right footed shot in the bottom left hand corner.

A flurry of corners followed but the half came to an end with the visitors holding the one goal advantage.

The second began with the Quakers dominating possession and looking a lot more dangerous than they had in the first.

Luke Corr carried on from a steady first half to then dominate the centre of midfield in the second. Skipper Tom Horner an able assistant to Luke's forays, as well as the pair often breaking up the home side’s build up play. The inevitable came ten minutes in, Darlington Youth adding a deserved second, Spencer Soakell pouncing on a blocked Kieran Longstaff shot to slot home and make it 2-0.

From this point onwards the visitors set about their opponents stretching them one way then the other, Liam Wynn often dropping off to supply the wide boys Ollie and Kieran to dart inside and out.

All three had shots saved by the very impressive home 'keeper. The third was around the corner though, Liam hit a low left footed shot from just outside the box beating the keeper to his left and nestling in the corner of the net. For the last 10 minutes as the lads looked for a fourth they played with a new found freedom, Alex Mason dancing his way past four men only to mishit a left footed shot. Luke Corr then did much the same, but again couldn't convert to an end product.

The boys managed a fourth in stunning style. Liam Wynn received the ball with his back to goal, dragged the ball back and turned then passed almost in one movement a precision through ball to Tom Horner who then effortlessly slipped it passed the keeper with a super cool finish. That was to be the last goal of the match, the whistle going with Darlington Youth winning 4-0.

After struggling on a very small pitch that didn't suit their style of play together with strong winds the boys adapted and ground down their opponents, finishing the match in scintillating fashion. An impressive debut from the bench from Sandy Gardner was also a plus, as was another clean sheet from Kenzie Alton who looked safe and assured when called upon. Kieran Longstaff again covered an amazing amount of ground turning defenders inside out in the process, the only thing lacking was a goal to top it off.

Man of the Match in the end went to Luke Corr, a dominant performance in the heart of midfield combining strength, pace and passion.