GOAL machine Nicky Duckling sent Middlesbrough Ladies into the third round of the Women's FA Cup with a stunning hat-trick to end a spirited fight-back from local rivals Darlington RA.

On a cold day with much of the surrounding area covered in frost, Boro looked to have thrown away all their good first half-work as two goals in three minutes brought the visitors back level, only for Duckling to break clear and score the winner.

The first-half was controlled by Boro, who created a hatful of chances as Darlington failed to get going.

The first came just two minutes in as Duckling latched onto a long ball forward and forced a save from Nikita Cadman.

Darlington looked hesitant at the back and were nearly punished 15 minutes later as Duckling almost punished a mix-up between Cadman and Lisa Thompson.

Cadman then kept Duckling out again as she rushed out to deny the forward.

The goal looked as if it was coming and on 22 minutes it did.

Steph Turnbull collected the loose ball after Kate Foster's strong challenge and crossed into Duckling, who was on hand to smash the ball past Cadman.

Boro extended their lead when Sally Mullin played a long ball over the top to Duckling, who raced onto the pass and finished well as Darlington looked in vain for an offside flag.

Boro could have scored another just before the break as Mullin struck a free-kick that took a deflection and went agonisingly wide of the post.

But Darlington looked a completely different side after the break and attacked from the off, with Emma McIntosh having two long distance efforts on goal.

The game was being stretched as the next goal would be crucial in an entertaining opening to the second period.

Darlington should have scored on 61 minutes as the impressive Natalie Wrangham ran down the left wing and played an inviting ball across goal for McIntosh, who just couldn't get the sufficient contact needed to put the ball home.

Darlington were coming back into the match and it was no surprise that they pulled one back thanks to an own-goal following good work from Wrangham.

She made a superb run down the left-wing and slid it across the six-yard box and as a ruck of bodies went for the ball the last touch seemed as if it came off a Middlesbrough player.

Darlington suddenly had a sense of belief that they could win the game and scored again two minutes later.

The ball was not cleared properly from a corner and fell invitingly for Clare Armstrong, who struck it beautifully on the volley from the edge of the area past the helpless Ami Bullen.

The home side looked shell-shocked as Darlington poured forward looking for a winner.

However, Duckling had other ideas as she ran onto another long ball over the top and completed her hat-trick with an accomplished finish which knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.

Boro kept going forward and hit a post late on with a 25-yard free-kick with Cadman beaten, as Darlington resorted to pumping long-balls into the Middlesbrough box.

The full-time whistle finally went after seven minutes of added time with the score fairly reflecting the game.