We head to FC United of Manchester looking to bounce back following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Boston United last Saturday (writes Simon Hahn)

Despite Reece Styche’s strike just before half-time we were unable to find an equaliser as we fell to only our second defeat in 12 games. It brought to an end a run of five straight wins at Blackwell Meadows.

Following the latest midweek fixtures we are 13^th in the table still five points off the final relegation place.

FC United are level on points with ourselves, but have played one game moe and have a worse goal difference. Both sides will still be looking over their shoulders as we enter the final two weeks of the season.

Our meeting earlier in the season was a controversial one. We came out on top 3-0, but we finished with ten men (Kevin Burgess was dismissed for a foul before half time) while FC United had two players sent off.

Our only previous trip to Broadhurst Park occurred in August 2016 when a late Nathan Cartman strike saw us come away 3-2 winners.

Manager Tommy Wright will have virtually a full squad to choose from, with only Chris Hunter out injured at the moment.

Meanwhile, Tommy has passed on his thanks to Gavin Ellis and the fans on the supporters bus for raising enough cash to pay for the buses for the last two away trips of the season. “It’s a fantastic gesture by all the fans, hopefully we can repay them with a victory.”

Kick off on Saturday is 3:00pm, updates on the game will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter and Website. Live Commentary will be broadcast from Darlo Fans Radio at 2:50pm.

Team news:

Luke Trotman is expected to be fit after missing last week’s game through injury, which means that only Chris Hunter is on the injured list

Statistics:

Quakers last five matches:

7^th April Boston (home) lost 1-2 Styche

Darlington: Pears, Portas (sub Collins 87, O'Hanlon, Turnbull (sub Mills 63), Heaton, Galbraith, Gillies (Caton 63), Wheatley, Styche, Syers, Thompson

subs: Glover, Bancroft,

 2^nd April Spennymoor (away) postponed, re-arranged for 19^th April

31^st March Southport (home) postponed, re-arranged for 25^th April

24^th March Telford (away) drew 0-0

Pears, Trotman, Heaton, Galbraith, O'Hanlon; Gillies, Turnbull, Wheatley, Thompson; Styche (sub Saunders 46), Caton (sub Scott 65)

Subs: Bancroft, Glover, Vaulks,

17^th March North Ferriby (home) won 6-0 Gillies 2, Thompson 2, Syers, Styche

Darlington:  Pears , Trotman, Heaton, Galbraith, O’Hanlon; Turnbull, Gillies, Wheatley; Thompson (sub Caton 64); Styche (sub Mills 64), Syers (sub Glover 57),

Subs: Bancroft, Vaulks

[caption id="attachment_40933" align="alignnone" width="300"] Stephen Thompson scores the second from the spot[/caption]

13^th March Tamworth (away) drew 0-0

Pears, Trotman, O’Hanlon, Turnbull, Vaulks, Galbraith, Mills (sub Caton 70), Syers, Styche, Gillies, Thompson.

Subs: Glover, Bancroft, Brown, Saunders

10^th March Curzon Ashton (home) won 1-0 Syers

Darlington: Pears, Trotman, O'Hanlon, Turnbull, Heaton, Galbraith, Caton (sub Gillies 46), Glover (sub Mills 75), Styche, Syers, Thompson (sub Scott 90+2)

Subs Bancroft, Vaulks,

Leading scorer:  Reece Styche 11 (inc 2 in Trophy) Stephen Thompson 10

Current league position:  13th

Position in form table of last six games:  6th

Away form: played 18, won 3, drawn 7, lost 8,    scored 16, conceded 29, points 16 (out of 47)

Best away winning margin: 2-0 at Salford

FC United

7^th April Tamworth (away) won 2-0 Lindfield, Garner

Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay (sub Tattum 71), Hughes, Fagbola, Crawford (sub Glynn 27), Irwin, Greaves (sub McCarthy 88), Garner, Lindfield

31^st March Leamington (away) lost 0-1

Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Fagbola, Glynn (sub Tattum 85), Racchi, Greaves, McCarthy, Garner

24^th March Bradford PA (home) won 4-0 King 3, Garner

Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Fagbola, Glynn, Crawford, Irwin (sub Garner 65), Greaves, King (sub McCarthy 80), Lindfield (sub Glynn 37)

21^st March Gainsborough (home) won 1-0 Lindfield

Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Fagbola, Crawford (sub Garner 67), Irwin (sub Racchi 81),  Greaves (sub McCarthy 80 mins), King, Lindfield

17^th March Boston (away) drew 4-4 Lindfield 2, King, Garner

Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Baird (sub Crawford 45), McCarthy (sub King 67), Racchi, (sub Garner 82)  Greaves, Irwin, Lindfield

League position: 15th

Position in form table of last six league games:  10th

Home form:   played 18, won 11, drawn 2, lost 5, goals scored 33 goals conceded 22 points 35 out of 47

Best home win: 4-0 v Bradford Park Avenue

Previous meetings:

Last season: FC United 2 Quakers 3 (Hardy, Thompson, Cartman),

Quakers 4 (Ferguson, Beck, Galbraith, Brown) FC United 2

Earlier this season:

Darlington 3 (Cartman, Ferguson, Wheatley) FC United of Manchester 0

Bartlett, Marrs, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Collins (sub Vaulks 85), Gillies (sub Syers 46), Wheatley , Beck (Thompson 78), Cartman, Ferguson

Subs: Wilczynski, Saunders

(Joe Wheatley made his full debut, and Kevin Burgess was sent off, two FC United players were also red carded)

Saturday’s games:

Boston v Bradford PA, Brackley v Alfreton, Chorley v Blyth Spartans, FC United of Manchester v Darlington, Gainsborough v York City, Harrogate Town v Southport, Kidderminster v Tamworth, Leamington v Curzon Ashton, Nuneaton v Salford, Spennymoor Town v North Ferriby, Stockport County v AFC Telford United