Darlington travel to Hyde United this weekend hoping to play their first fixture of December.

The weather has disrupted the Quakers' campaign over the last two months, with the defeat at Barwell being the only league fixture completed since October.

However, Quakers have had a triple boost this week -- midfielder Phil Turnbull has declared himself fit to play, the return to Blackwell Meadows has edged closer, while the league has imposed a suspended points deduction for an ineligible player.

Hyde United had a great run in October which sees them sit in the top half of the table, just five points outside of the playoffs. Despite this, they haven’t won any of their last five league games.

MG said: “We’re very keen to get back into action. It’s been frustrating having these games called off, but we just have to get on with it.

“We’ve had a good week in training this week on Monday and Wednesday, and there’s been plenty of hard work done, which we hope will benefit us over the busy period ahead.”

Hyde’s recent results.

December 14^th v Colwyn Bay League Cup drew 1-1 Bevins. lost 4-3 on penalties

Wilczynski, Jones, Neville, Burke, Trimble, G Spencer, Fitton, Khamsuk, Boyle, Bevins, Jago

Subs: Ellison, Killock, S Spencer, Birch, Broadbent

December 12^th game postponed

December 5th v Halesowen (away) drew 1-1 Neville.

Wilczynski, Burke, Neville, Harris, Killock, Birch, Fitton, Snodin, S Spencer, Bevins (sub Boyle 63), Jago

Subs not used: Ellison, G Spencer, Broadbent

November 28th v Frickley (home) drew 1-1. Spencer pen (20 goals for the season) .

Wilczynski, Burke, Neville, Harris, Killock, Birch, Fitton, Gray, S Spencer, Bevins, Jago (sub Snodin)

Subs not used: Ellison, G Spencer, Pearson, Boyle

November 21st Ilkeston (away) lost 1-3 Jago.

Wilczynski, Burke, Neville, Pearson, Harris, Birch, Fitton (sub Ellison 80), Jago, S Spencer, Bevins, Gray (sent off)

Subs not used: Broadbent, Killock, G Spencer, Khamsuk

The sides met in back-to-back games in September at Heritage Park, in which Hyde came out on top on both occasions. The first meeting saw Hyde win 3-1 in the FA Cup, before they won again in the league just seven days later 3-2.

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Earlier in the season at Heritage Park.

September 19^th. (League)

Darlington 2 Hyde United 3

Darlington lost to Hyde United for the second successive week, and only had themselves to blame.

Quakers started better than last week when they lost to Hyde in the Cup. Hyde keeper Josh Ollerenshaw saved Alan White’s glancing header, then Anthony Bell played a 1-2 with Stephen Thompson and Ollerenshaw pushed shot into the side netting.

Hyde caught Quakers wrong-footed on 13 minutes when Liam Davies found space on the left and set up the unmarked Scott Spencer, who scored twice last week, to turn and score from six yards.

After Tom Portas had a goal mysteriously chalked off for offside – Nathan Cartman was adjudged to have interfered with the keeper’s line of vision -- Hyde went 2-0 up. Quakers failed to clear their lines in the penalty area, and the ball fell for Spencer to turn into the bottom corner.

Hyde could have scored more, as Quakers wobbled in defence. Jameson pushed a Reece Gray shot around the post, and Adam Jones headed over the top.

Quakers though recovered their composure, and Ollerenshaw saved from Thompson at full stretch, and he blocked Cartman’s flick on the line.

In the second half, Bell wasted a good chance when he sidefooted straight at the keeper, and sub David Dowson forced the keeper into a good save.

But Ollerenshaw was finally beaten in the 59^th minute when Adam Mitchell crossed for Nathan Cartman to volley in at the near post.

[caption id="attachment_15712" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nathan Cartman scores against Hyde[/caption]

On 63 minutes, Quakers were level when Thompson sent Dowson running clear, and the striker slotted the ball home.

Quakers went in search of a winner and nearly got it when Ian Watson set up Dowson, but he could only fire straight at Ollerenshaw.

Instead, it was Hyde who grabbed the points when Quakers lost possession, and Ayrton Bevins set up Spencer to fire past Jameson.

Attendance 1037

Darlington: Jameson, Mitchell, Watson, Portas, Burgess, Hunter, Thompson (sub Youhill), Turnbull, White, Cartman (sub Dowson), Bell (sub Galbraith).

Subs: Provett, Scott

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Kick-off on Saturday is 3pm at Hyde. Updates on the game will be made from the club’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the phone app.

And of course there will be a match report on the official website after the game.