Check on the progress of our youth teams in the first part of this week's round up.

Under 8 feethams win 8-2 away

by Martin Williamson

Another great team performance from the boys. The effort from every one of the boys was relentless!

The boys started the game exactly how they were asked too, high tempo and brilliant passing. All the boys worked for each other and the tackling was tough but very fair.

The boys took a well deserved 5 nil lead into half time. Harry Ward scored a quick fire hat trick and Kai Martin added the other 2.

All boys were equally involved in the game and the second half saw Kai Martin score three more with the opposition scoring two consolation goals.

I am not going to mention each individual player as today was a team performance by all 8 boys.

Man of the match was Kai Martin for his work rate and faultless finishing.

Darlington FC Under 12 6 HFC United Hoops 1

By Jonny Kane

Darlington were at the races straight from the off, as the kick off the ball was laid straight off to Tyler Rowden who hit a diagonal pass straight into the corner for Will Gatiss to get onto the end of and drive into the box and cut it back for Alex Walton to finish off and put Darlington 1-0 up after 30 seconds.

The Boys didn't hold back with the pressure as they wanted more than 1 in the game and they soon got it. Again there was a big diagonal ball, this time from Preston Gredziak who again found Will Gatiss with lots of space out on the left hand side, who ran at the defence and crossed to the back post to Tyler, which within his first touch set up Finlay Tulips to calmly place the ball in the bottom corner for his 4th of the season, 2-0. After some good saves by the HFC goalkeeper, Darlington finally got their 3rd when there was a free kick out on the right hand side for it to be cleared back out for Tyler to put the ball back into the back post and Will to get what he has deserved and put the ball in the back off the net with a bullet header, 3-0. After making a few substitutions before half time, it was one of the subs that got the 4th and another one that made the assist, with Taylor Waugh running down the right hand side, cut the ball back for Caden Beckett to turn his marker and put the ball nicely in the corner, 4-0.

HT 4-0

The second half started a lot slower than the first but the Darlington lads started with a lot of the ball and passing the ball around the pitch very well. One bad pass in the defence led to HFC scoring, after a rushed pass was cut out by the HFC striker scoring from a neat chip over the Darlington goalkeeper, who got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. 4-1.

Darlington stepped up a gear after conceding and the went up the other end and scored again themselves after a great through ball out on the right side from Charlie Drury for Will to run onto again and he the cut inside and with his stronger left foot and curl the ball into the far top corner 5-1. The last goal was added just before the final whistle was blown, there was great work out on the right hand side from Finlay, who went for a commanding run into the box taking on 2 defenders and cutting the ball back for Taylor Waugh to put the ball into the corner to end the game on a high.

Good performance from the boys, great team work and good passing all around.

MOTM - Will Gatiss - Outstanding performance all around up and down the pitch.

Matty scores late winner for Under 14s

by Steve Cotterill

Dfc Quakers Under 14 1 Spennymoor 0

Darlington u 14 entertained Spennymoor town at Eastbourne and started brightly quickly getting their passing game going and had a great chance when Connor brown burst through firing inches wide . Captain Thomas Lea came close moments later getting on the end of Connor Browns corner his header going agonisingly wide of the post for all their dominance Darlo couldn't find the break through their play deserved

Half time 0-0

Second half started Cieran Dixon looking lively put in a great ball which Kia wright was unlucky not to convert Spennymoor grew into the game and the second half was a more even contest and had a great chance to take the lead when they broke through forcing a great save from Matty Cotterill the ball rebounding to the Spenny player who fired over the bar from close range moments later Spenny thought they had scored great header from a corner but Lewis Carragher managed a great clearance off the line with the game heading for a draw Connor Brown broke away played a great pass into Matty Callender whose first time shot found the back of the net for the winner . This was a great team performance every player worked hard for the team with Captain and man of the match Thomas Lea leading by example .

Darlington FC Feethams under 7s in battling draw

Bailey Ramrehka

Feethams were in for a tough test against a very good visiting side, both teams started brightly playing some good football and closing down quickly making it difficult for every player on the pitch. Josh Everett and Ethan Sweet playing well at the back with the help of Alfie Fenwick and Cena-Cole Priestley tracking back to help the defenders. Reece Dixon looked comfortable in goal determined to keep a clean sheet. The lads knew that there were going to be in for a difficult game, in the first half they coped will with the physical aspect of the game showing that they weren't going to get pushed off the ball that easy.

Half time 0-0

Second half saw the Feethams have more chances in front of goal forcing the opponents’ keeper to pull off some smart saves. Although with both teams matching each other the game was end to end until a deflection in midfield saw the ball fall to the opposing player finish a 1v1 into the Feethams net. 1-0

A few minutes after the goal conceded Feethams scored the equaliser, Cena-Cole Priestley finding space on the left hand side after taking on the defender and then smartly finishing past the keeper’s near post with his left foot. Half time subs Harry Bass and Riley Nisbit fitted in well and never looked out of place once they came on helping out in both defence and attack, the lads constantly linking up well with each other helping each other out. Our opponents looked to net the winner in the final minutes but Reece Dixon pulled off a quality save to his left hand side which looked like it was flying into the top corner a great save from the keeper. The score finished 1-1 between both teams, a close game which could of saw either team take the win, although a great shift from the lads from a defensive point of view they all worked as a team and are constantly developing every week

Man of the Match - Both Reece Dixon and Cena-Cole Priestley