[caption id="attachment_15825" align="alignnone" width="300"] Graeme Armstrong scores against Spennymoor in the play off semi final[/caption]

 

Darlington host Whitby Town in a festive derby on Boxing Day, aiming to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.

The Quakers face their seaside neighbours, before travelling to league leaders Blyth Spartans on Monday afternoon.

Darlington were able to return to winning ways last Saturday when a Lee Gaskell hat-trick helped them to a 3-1 win at Hyde United. The win kept the side in fifth place in the league table with all the sides above them also picking up three points.

Weather permitting, this will be Quakers' first home game since the FA Trophy tie against Mossley on October 31st, and manager Martin Gray said; "We can't wait to play at home, we're really looking forward to it. The home fans haven't seen us play for two months, and we want to give them a performance to remember for all the right reasons."

The Quakers side features many players who have arrived at the club from Whitby, notably Tom Portas, Graeme Armstrong and captain Kevin Burgess. Portas and Armstrong arrived in the summer of 2014 and were arguably the two best players during the 2014/15 promotion season. Burgess made the switch this summer and was swiftly appointed the captaincy. Armstrong, who was unavailable last Saturday, returns to the squad this week. Whitby include former Quakers Dale Hopson and Ryan Brobbel.

Quakers team at Hyde last Saturday was:

Jameson, Brown, Burgess, Hunter, Galbraith, Mitchell (sub Portas 75), Scott, Turnbull, Thompson (Gibbons 85), Cartman (sub Dowson 63), Gaskell.

Subs not used: Provatt, Kneeshaw.

As well as the playing links, present Darlington secretary and chief scout was manager of Whitby during one of the most successful periods in their history, when they won the FA Vase, Northern League and promotion from the EvoStik First Division. They also reached the first round of the FA cup on two occasions, one of them famously losing by 8-4 to Hull City after leading 4-3 going into the last minute.

Whitby have struggled so far this season and currently sit in one of the four relegation places. Their latest outing was a 1-0 defeat at home to Sutton Coldfield Town last weekend.

Their recent results have been:

December 19^th Sutton Coldfield (home) lost 0-1

Bland, Martin, Robinson, Bullock, Weledji, McTiernan, Hopson, R. Gardner, Roberts, Waters, Brobbel.

Subs Pell, Shepherd, C. Gardner, Mason, Dixon (GK).

November 28th Mickleover Sports (home) won 4-1. Roberts, McTiernan, Hopson, Weledji

Whitby Town: Bland, Weledji, Robinson (c) (R Gardner 73), Shepherd, Bullock, McTiernan, Hopson (Raby 90), Gell, Roberts, Waters (Mason 67), Brobbel. Subs not used: Mandeville, C Gardner.

November 21st Mickleover Sports (away) lost 0-1

Bland, Nearney, Robinson, Pell, Shepherd, McTiernan, Gardner (Mason 66), Gell, Roberts (Charmey 83), Waters (Manderville 57), Brobbel. Subs not used: Bullock, Weledji.

 

November 14th FA Trophy Blyth (away) lost 0-1.

Bland, Nearney, Robinson (c) (Weledji 66), Pell, Shepherd, McTierman, Mason (Mandeville 58), Bullock, Roberts, Waters (Gardner 72), Brobbel. Subs not used: Gell, Charmey.

 

November 10th League Cup Scarborough (away) drew 2-2. Roberts, McTiernan. Lost 4-3 on penalties.

Bland, Weledji, Robinson (c), Shepherd, Bullock, McTiernan, Brobbel (Gell 75), Charmey, Roberts, Mandeville, C Gardner (R Gardner 58). Subs not used: Raby, Keogh, Campbell (GK).

 

November 7th Marine (away) lost 1-2. Hopson.

Bland, Hassan, Robinson (c), Burgess, King, McTiernan, Mason (Doran 73), Hopson, Nolan, Snaith (Brown 81), Bullock (Shepherd 46). Subs not used: Pell, Campbell (GK).

The sides have met recently in pre-season outings, including in July when Whitby came away 3-0 winners.

Whitby recently changed their manager, with former Guisborough manager Chris Hardy taking over from Darren Williams, and his first game in charge was a 1-0 home defeat by Sutton Coldfield last Saturday.

Kick-off at Heritage Park on Saturday is 3pm.

Updates will be made on the clubs official Facebook, Twitter and mobile app, and there will be a report on the official website.