On a very heavy pitch, Darlington Simply Lasses and Hartlepool St Francis engaged in a fiercely fought battle mainly in the midfield area.

Both teams worked hard to gain supremacy but it was the home team who eventually took the lead when Kerry Denham scored in the 20th minute. Having switched from her usual position of right back, to make up for a shortage of front-line players, Kerry played at centre forward for most of this game. For her first goal she ran across the penalty area with the ball and placed a shot just beyond the hands of the away teams keeper.

Just two minutes later, enjoying her new role, Kerry then hit the crossbar with a flighted lob over the keeper's head.

It was Kerry Denham again who, in the 45th minute collected the ball outside of the penalty area, following a mis-clearance, and shot into an open goal as the keeper was left stranded.

Darlington got stronger in the last quarter of the game but Hartlepool battled well to ensure they did not score any more goals.

Both keepers put in very good performances, making several very good saves which kept the goals tally down. Kellie Cox for Darlington showed a lot of natural ability, playing in goal on this occasion, rather than up front, to cover the absence of this team's first-choice keeper who was on holiday.

The final score was Darlington Simply Lasses 2, Hartlepool St Francis 0 with home player of the match going to Carly Wrangham and the away player of the match being Lauren Bates.

* Darlington Simply Lasses always welcome new players. Training is on Tuesdays at 6pm at Haughton School and Saturdays at 10am at Alderman Leach School. For further information contact Sue on (01325) 80485 or Ken on (01324) 259627.