Quakers looking for first win of 2018

This Saturday we host playoff chasing Chorley looking to pick up our first win of 2018 (writes Simon Hahn). Last weekend we came close to picking up a huge win at Alfreton after Reece Styche’s early strike. However, a late penalty ensured we stayed in the bottom three going into this weekend.

Chorley travel to Blackwell Meadows in ninth place in the league table sitting just two points off the playoff places.

After a fantastic campaign last season when they reached the playoff final, their impressive defensive record has continued this time around. They have the joint best defensive record in the league so far having only conceded 22 goals.

When we met earlier on in the season, we were comfortably beaten, losing 4-1 with Harvey Saunders scoring our consolation.

This will Chorley’s first visit to Blackwell Meadows, with our meeting last season taking place at Heritage Park when we won 2-0.

On Saturday they won away 2-0 at mid-table Curzon Ashton.

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.

Statistics:

Quakers last five matches:

13^th January Alfreton (away) drew 1-1 Styche

Talbot, Portas, Galbraith, Scott, Heaton, Brown, Mills (sub Saunders 72), Turnbull, Styche, Gillies (sub Wheatley 76), Thompson

Subs: Marrs, Caton, Syers,

10^th January Salford (home) lost 1-2 Mills

Talbot, Collins (sub Portas 24), Galbraith, Scott, Heaton, Brown, Mills (sub Wheatley 82), Turnbull, Styche, Gillies, Thompson (Sub Saunders 82)

Subs: Caton, Syers,

6^th January York City (home) lost 1-2 Styche

Talbot, Collins (sub Portas 70), Heaton, Brown, Thompson, Galbraith, Wheatley, Syers, Mills, Styche, Saunders

Subs: Caton, Scott, Turnbull, Gillies

1^st January Harrogate Town (away) lost 0-3

Talbot, Collins, Heaton, Brown, Scott (sub Galbraith 55), Gillies (sub Mills 69), Turnbull (sub Saunders 55), Wheatley, Thompson, Styche, Syers

Subs: Glover,Caton,

26^th December Harrogate Town (home) won 3-1 Styche 2, Thompson pen

Talbot, Collins, Heaton, Brown, Scott, Gillies, Turnbull, Wheatley (sub Glover 90), Thompson, Styche (sub Saunders 57, sub Mills 86), Syers

Subs: Marrs,  Caton,

Booking: Turnbull, Glover

Subs:  Scott, Saunders

]

Leading scorer:  Reece Styche  7

Team news:  Dominic Collins is out because of a torn hamstring

Luke Trotman is hoping to be 100 per cent fit after recovering from a thigh injury

Aynsley Pears is expected to make his debut in goal after signing on a month’s loan from Middlesbrough – James Talbot is suspended for three matches. He will be our fourth keeper this season (five if you count Gary Brown standing in for Talbot last Saturday at Alfreton)

Current league position:  20^th

Home form: played 13, won 5 drawn 3, lost 5

Chorley last five matches:

V Curzon Ashton (away) won 2-0

Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (C), Leather, Jordan, Haughton (Whitham 84), O’Keefe, Wilson (Walker 78), Brewster (Carver 61), Cottrell; Subs: Anson, Mooney

09/01/2018 Kidderminster Harriers (H) Drew 0-0

06/01/2018 Harrogate Town (H) Lost 1-0

01/01/2018 Southport (A) Lost 3-0

26/12/2018 Southport (H) Drew 0-0

23/12/2018 Salford (A) won 3-0

Current league position:  9^th

Away form: won 5, drawn 2, lost 5

Team news:

Top scorer Nick Haughton (who scored against Quakers earlier in the season) has been recalled by his club Fleetwood

Defender Matt Challoner is suspended

Earlier this season:

Chorley 4 (Walker 2 (1 pen), Challoner, Haughton) Darlington 1 (Saunders)

Darlington: Bartlett, Marrs, Collins, Burgess, Ferguson, Turnbull, Scott (sub Saunders 55), Portas (sub Syers 88), Gillies, Beck, Thompson (sub Caton 55)

Subs: Wilczynski, Vaulks

Chorley: Urwin; Challoner, Leather, Teague (c), Jordan, Blakeman; O'Keefe (Whitham, 89), Cottrell; Haughton (Roscoe, 84); Carver (Hughes, 80), Walker. Subs not used: Charnock, Jarvis.

Head-to-head

This season: Chorley 4 Darlington 1

Last season: Darlington 2 Chorley 0, Chorley 1 Darlington 1

1989-90 (Conference) Chorley 0 Darlington 3, Darlington 3 Chorley 0

The game will be covered live on Darlo Fans Radio, as well as the official website, Facebook and Twitter