Darlington looking to make it seven wins in a row on Saturday
By Ray Simpson
The Quakers host Halesowen Town at Heritage Park on Saturday with the possibility of being top of th...
Victory at Nantwich Town in midweek saw Darlington move to within a point of league leaders Blyth Spartans, still with two games in hand. Nathan Cartman and Terry Galbraith both scored twice with Graeme Amrstrong also scoring in a very impressive 5-0 win. Victory also opened up a five point gap to third place Salford City.
Darlington team on Tuesday:
Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Portas, Nowakowski, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 59), Cartman (sub Mitchell 80), Thompson (sub Hardy 65).
Subs: Provett, Weldon
When the two sides met at the beginning of September in the reverse fixture, Darlington came away with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Armstrong, Kevin Burgess and Stephen Thompson.
Last time we met
September 5th 2015
Halesowen 0 Darlington 3
Darlington comfortably won their second away game of the season in the midlands, to keep them firmly in the top three.
Quakers took the lead in the opening minutes with a shot by Stephen Thompson that Halesowen keeper Matthew Sargeant tipped over the bar, and Graeme Armstrong scored with a header from the corner by Anthony Bell that followed.
Quakers went in search of a second, and they nearly got it through Thompson, who fired just over from an Ian Watson corner, and then Phil Turnbull was just off target.
Halesowen rallied briefly, but Darlington keeper Peter Jameson saved from Reece Hales, and then he saved at the feet of Greg Pearson.
At the other end, the dangerous Armstrong set up Nathan Cartman who had a shot blocked, and at the start of the second half Armstrong headed over from a Thompson cross.
Quakers scored a deserved second on the hour, when Chris Hunter was fouled, and from Ian Watson’s free kick, Kevin Burgess headed past the keeper, his third goal of the season.
It was all over on 75 minutes when Thompson dispossessed a defender and hit a low shot past the keeper from 25 yards for his second goal in as many games.
Quakers have now won their last three matches.
Team: Jameson, Gibbons, Watson, Scott, Burgess, Hunter, Thompson, Turnbull, Armstrong. Cartman, Bell.
Subs used: Mitchell for Gibbons, White for Armstrong, Dowson for Cartman
Subs not used: Youhill, Provett
Attendance 649
Halesowen Town currently sit in 13th place in the league table. So far they have won six of their 19 away league games this season. They travel to Heritage Park in good form having won three of their last four games, including winning their latest fixture 3-1 away to Ilkeston FC.
Last seven results
March 19th Ilkeston (away) won 3-1 Anderson 2, Parsons-Smith
March 15th Salford (home) lost 0-1
March 12th Blyth (away) won 1-0 Clarke
March 5th Ilkeston (home) won 2-0 Clarke, Melvin
February 27th Buxton (away) drew 1-1 Sweeney
February 20th Buxton (home) drew 1-1 Ravenhill og
February 13th Nantwich (away) lost 0-3
Elsewhere on Saturday, league leaders Blyth Spartans travel to Stamford.
Kick off on Saturday is 3:00pm at Heritage Park, updates on the game will be made from the club's Facebook, Twitter, Mobile App and Website. Live Commentary will be broadcast from Darlo Fans Radio at 2:50pm.
