Darlington Youth Under 14s 5 Marton FC Royal Under 14s 2

Final game of the season for the U-14s and all was still to play for. The visitors for the game were Marton FC Royal and the maths were simple. One point and the lads would be promoted as runners up.

Darlington controlled much of the opening exchanges and created two or three chances before finally taking the lead half way through the first half. Liam Wynn sent in a dangerous free kick which Spencer Soakell tried to direct towards the goal but failed to make a thick enough contact. Luckily Ollie Johnson arrived at the far post to hit the ball into the roof of the net. The slim one goal advantage remained throughout the half, the visitors marshalled by the solid home defence. Chances at the other end were aplenty but none converted until an exquisite finish from captain Tom Horner. Two defenders seemed to blocking any path he had towards goal until he neatly turned inside and hit an inch perfect shot from the edge of the box with his left foot that curled into the top left hand corner of the net.

The second half kicked off with Marton threatening the Darlington goal. Keeper Kenzie Alton had been a spectator much of the first half but was called upon twice in quick succession to close down players in one on one situations. From the second of these the Quakers broke quickly down the right with Ollie Johnson forcing a corner. Liam Wynn stepped up with a sweetly struck inswinging corner which Ollie Johnson met superbly with a looping header from six yards out that beat the keeper to make it 3-0.

The visitors though often outpassed throughout the game continued to look for a way back and were handed a lifeline five minutes later. A ball inside the penalty box wasn't cleared and an attacker was on hand to slide in and prod the ball home. The nerves crept in at this point and it looked as if Darlington were about to concede again, but Kenzie Alton in goal managed to stop a shot at close range and then scrambled along the line to scoop the rebound away when it looked odds on to be nestling in the net.

Marton continued with the pressure but left themselves open at the back, Liam Wynn and Kieran Longstaff going close before Liam hit on the break outpacing two defenders before slotting home from just inside the box to ease the pressure once more. With a little over five minutes remaining Liam popped up at the back post to hit a fifth thanks to good work down the right flank from Ollie Johnson and Spencer Soakell. With almost the last kick of the game the visitors scored a consolation goal from a high free kick outside the box which looped over Kenzie Alton's head. Final score 5-2

There were several notable performances. Joe Hanson at right back full of energy and rarely beaten throughout the game. Spencer Soakell won the lion's share of possession in the centre of the pitch while Tom Horner applied some deft touches to often leave his opponents in knots. Liam Wynn hit two goals and helped Ollie Johnson find the net twice. Kieran Longstaff buzzed around unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal. Man of the Match went to Luke Corr, who was tasked with the job of keeping tabs on the danger man again, but finding time to turn defence into attack too.

A long season concluded with a deserved promotion to the top flight for the lads. A few ups and downs along the way, with a little bit more luck they may have finished the season as champions. The squad should be proud of themselves but will need to ready themselves for the challenge that Division One will no doubt bring.