Blyth Town 0 Darlington RA Ladies 9.

THE game started slow with both sides fairly evenly matched. Darlington increased the pace and after ten minutes they were rewarded with a goal only for the linesman to raise a late flag.

From this point Darlington increased the pressure and this time they did lead with Zoro playing a ball into the midfield to Nicola Gray who played a well-timed ball through to Natalie Wrangham who placed it past the Blyth keeper.

Darlington kept the pressure up and were rewarded with a second goal, Lisa Thompson played in a corner which Louise Leach made a fantastic header that hit the cross bar, Emma Saunders was there to follow up.

Blyth upped their pressure but the Darlington defence stood strong. A great save for the Darlington keeper Kate Surtees and a quick ball fed out gave Darlington the chance to counter attack, a great ball over the top of the Blyth defence from Lisa Thompson sent Louise leach on her way with a great finish at the near post.

Darlington had time for another before the half-time whistle which came from a short Lisa Thompson corner into the feet of Louise Leach who played a good ball back to Lisa Thompson who struck it past the Blyth keeper.

Both sides created some good chances early in the second half but unable to convert. Darlington got the first goal after half-time with Natalie Wrangham playing a ball into Emma Mcintosh who chipped in over the keeper, the ball trickled goalwards and again Emma Saunders was there to slot home for her second of the game.

Darlington got their sixth of the game minutes later When Natalie Wrangham played a ball over the Blyth defence which Emma Mcintosh controlled perfectly and slotted past the keeper.

Darlington were attacking well and it didn't take them long to get their seventh of the game. Tez Mcdonald. who was having a great game, played a great ball wide to Natalie Wrangham who ran past the Blyth full back and crossed in for Emma Saunders to meet for her hat-trick.

An eighth Darlington goal came from a fantastic Nicola Gray strike from outside the area which hit the cross bar and went over the line. Darlington had time for another before the full-time whistle which came from a Julie Hill pass to Natalie Wrangham who played a ball through the Blyth defence for Emma Saunders to run on to and calmly place past the keeper getting her fourth goal of the game.

It was an excellent team performance which helped Darlington to go into the festive break unbeaten at the top of the league. Player of the match was Natalie Wrangham.

Stockton West End Ladies

STOCKTON West Ladies were visitors to Boldon Ladies in the Durham County FA Subsidiary Cup.

West End had the game all against them from the beginning. The team only had eight players to begin with and Boldon took advantage of this by scoring five quick goals in the first half. West End played good football at times but many of the players were suffering from colds and were also struggling from not playing a game for three weeks.

Ladies: Kayley Aitchinson, Phillipa Thomas, Natalie Thomas, Laura Bellerby, Laura Howcroft, Nikki Davey, Kelly McDonald,Katie Metcalfte.

Teesside Athletic Ladies

TEESSIDE Athletic Ladies were beaten 3-2 away by promotion chasing, Washington Nissan.

In a game between two evenly matched sides two hotly disputed penalties were the difference. Nissan Captain Claire Mongan completed her hat-trick, converting both penalties.

Teesside started the game well and could have gone in front when Leanne Anderson came close from a cross by Kirsty Ramsay and when Vicky Longster crashed a 40-yard volley against the bar.

It was Nissan who opened the scoring when Claire Mongan finished from the edge of the box.

After a strong run from Ramsay was halted with a foul, Emma Bolton equalised from the resulting free-kick. Longster again hit the bar, this time with a free-kick and Anderson narrowly missed the rebound.

The home team were then awarded two penalties in quick succession and went in at half-time leading 3-1.

Teesside rallied after the interval and pulled a goal back when Leanne Anderson raced onto a through ball, rounded the keeper and finished confidently with her left foot.

Natalie Robson picked up the player of the match award for Teesside.