Preview and stats pack for Thursday’s derby game at Spennymoor

On Thursday night we face Spennymoor at the Brewery Field having secured our place in the division for next season at the weekend. A fantastic performance at FC United of Manchester saw us pick up a 2-1 victory thanks to Josh Gillies and Reece Styche. After the midweek games we are 13^th, in the table as we move into our last four games.

Spennymoor still look likely to grab one of the top seven places and a spot in the playoffs, but their run in has been severely hampered by their back log of games which has seen three of their matches recently switched to Harrogate’s ground. They played at Harrogate on

It has still been an impressive first season at this level for the Moors following promotion last season.

Our meeting earlier in the season saw us draw 1-1 at Blackwell Meadows with Gary Brown netting for us.

We have had many memorable meetings in recent years, including our 3-1 win at the Brewery Field in the Northern League and a 3-2 victory at Heritage Park in the playoffs.

Spennymoor have a host of ex Quakers in their ranks including Joe Tait, Jamie Chandler and Rob Ramshaw.

Kick off on Thursday is 7:45pm, 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 7:35pm.

Team news:

Quakers will be at full strength except for defender Chris Hunter

Statistics:

Quakers last five matches:

14^th April FC United (away) won 2-1 Gillies, Styche

Pears: Trotman (sub Portas 58), Heaton, Galbraith, O’Hanlon; Turnbull, Wheatley, Thompson, Syers, Gillies (sub Collins 90+1); Styche (sub Saunders 85)

Subs: Bancroft, Caton, 

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,

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

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

Leading scorer:  Reece Styche 12 (inc 2 in Trophy) Stephen Thompson 10

Current league position:  13th

Position in form table of last six games:  6th

Away form: played 19, won 4, drawn 7, lost 8,    scored 18, conceded 30, points 19 (out of 50)

Best away winning margin: 2-0 at Salford

Spennymoor Town

Last five matches:

17^th April v Kidderminster (at Harrogate) drew 1-1 Taylor

Spennymoor: Lowson, Griffiths, Tait, Curtis, Mason (sub Hall 36), Henry, Chandler, Ramshaw, Anderson, Johnson, Taylor

Subs: Dixon, Porter, Fewster, Lowe

12^th April v Brackley (at Harrogate) lost 0-3

Lowson, Griffiths, Tait, Mason, Curry, Lowe, Chandler, Ramshaw, Anderson, Johnson, Rutherford (sub Fewster 71)

Subs: Dixon, Porter, Hall, Henry

10^th April v Boston (at Harrogate) drew 0-0

Lowson, Dixon, Curry, Curtis, Chantler, Lowe (sub Fewster 67), Henry, Hall, Ramshaw, Foley (sub Johnson 46), Taylor

Subs: Mason, Porter, Anderson

7^th April v Alfreton (away) won 4-1 Taylor 3, Lowe

Lowson, Dixon, Curry, Curtis, Chantler, Lowe (sub Anderson 86), Henry, Hall, Ramshaw, Foley (sub Johnson 82), Taylor

Subs: Mason, Porter,Fewster

5^th April v Telford (away) lost 2-3 Johnson, Lowe

Lowson, Griffiths, Tait, Curtis, Mason, Lowe, Chandler (sub Fewster 78), Ramshaw, Anderson (sub Foley 70), Johnson (sub Hall 70), Taylor

Subs:  Porter, Henry

League position: 7th

Position in form table of last six league games:  16th

Home form:   played 17, won 8, drawn 5, lost 4 goals scored 26, against 22, points 29 out of 59

Best home win: 3-0 v Bradford Park Avenue

Top scorer: Glen Taylor 19

Previous meetings:

2012-13 Northern League: Darlington 0 Spennymoor 0; Spennymoor 1 Darlington 3. Northern League Cup: Darlington 0 Spennymoor 2

2014-15 EvoStik 1DN; Spennymoor 0 Darlington 2, Darlington 1 Spennymoor 0. Play off semi: Darlington 3 Spennymoor 2

2017-18 National League North: Darlington 1 Spennymoor 1

This season:

Darlington 1 (Brown) Spennymoor 1 (Foley)

Bartlett, Marrs, Ferguson, Galbraith, Collins, Brown, Thompson (sub Fenwick 75), Turnbull, Beck, Syers (sub Portas 77), Gillies (sub Caton 77)

Subs : Wheatley, Wilczynski,

Spennymoor: Lowson, Griffiths, Chantler, Chandler, Tait, Curtis, Hall (sub Henry 50), Ramshaw, Taylor, Johnson (sub Orrell 73), Foley

Subs Mason, Porter, Anderson

Connections: There are likely to be several former Darlington players in the Spennymoor squad, the most notable being Jamie Chandler, who was man of the match for Quakers in that famous 2011 Trophy final. Also included are Joe Tait, Chris Mason, Rob Ramshaw and Dan Lowson.

Brad Fewster was also on trial with Quakers pre season.