Despite defeat at Ossett Town in the League Cup with all of the regular players rested, last Saturday’s victory at Salford City by 4-3 saw us continue our recent good form in the league. The win saw us move up to third place in the league table, 11 points behind league leaders Blyth with four games in hand, and three points behind second placed Workington with four games in hand.

Last Saturday's Darlo team:

Jameson, Hunter, Brown, Burgess, Galbraith, Mitchell, Scott, Turnbull, Thompson (sub Cartman 69), Gaskell (sub Nowakowski 90+1), Hardy (sub Armstrong 65).

Subs not used: Mitchell, Provett.

Sutton Coldfield are currently sat in 10^th place in the table, nine points off the final play-off place.

So far at home this season they have won seven of their 15 home fixtures. In their most recent game, they won 1-0 away to Mickleover Sports.  They have only lost one of their last ten games in all competitions.

Their recent form:

February 13th Mickleover (away) won 1-0 Forde

Sutton Coldfield:- Wren, Millichamp, Jackson, Forde, Kettle, Lycett, Edmunds (Palmer 78), Goddard, Farquharson (Mannion 47), Lilly (Beresford 70), O’Callaghan. Subs: Turton, Gwilliams

February 9th Kidsgrove (League Cup) (home) drew 2-2 Nadat, Mannion. Lost 4-2 on pens

February 6th Stamford (home) won 2-0. Lilly 2

January 30th Buxton (away) drew 2-2 Farquharson, Kettle

January 23rd Ilkeston (home) lost 0-2

January 9th Hyde (home) drew 0-0

January 2nd Skelmersdale (home) won 3-1 Rodgers, O’Callaghan, Edmunds

Like ourselves, they were promoted into the Evo-Stik Premier League via the playoffs last season. In the final of the First Division South they were able to win 2-0 at Leek Town in front of over 1200 spectators.

The two sides are yet to meet in the league, with the reverse fixture scheduled to be played at Heritage Park on the 2^nd of April, however, the Royals beat the Quakers 1-0 in the FA Trophy back in November.

Last time we met

Sutton Coldfield 1 Darlington 0

Quakers are out of the FA Trophy thanks to a below par performance at Sutton Coldfield.

Keeper Peter Jameson was their man of the match, as he kept Quakers in the game with some good saves, one of them a penalty late in the game.

The home side nearly took the lead after a few minutes when an effort by Luke Rodgers dropped just over Peter Jameson’s bar, but they broke through on 14 minutes when Quakers lost possession, and Rodgers crossed for Jordan Goddard to score.

Quakers were fortunate not to concede further goals as they struggled to get to grips with the home attack.

Rodgers nearly got a second on two occasions. First when he fired wide from the edge of the box, and then Jameson pulled off a good save as his effort headed for the top corner. Zak Lilley also nearly scored following a mistake by Alan White.

Quakers tried to get back into the game and Nathan Cartman went close twice then Lee Gaskell headed Cartman’s cross against the bar.

In the second half, Quakers nearly conceded another, but Jameson kept his side in the game by saving from Kyle Bryant.

Manager Martin Gray made three substitutions just after the hour, and the change nearly paid dividends when Anthony Callaghan got through, but his shot was saved by Jamie Wren.

Sutton couldn’t finish Quakers off, Rodgers missed an easy chance from a few yards, and a few minutes from the end they awarded a penalty when Alan White was given his second yellow for a foul, but Jameson saved the penalty from Rodgers.

Quakers nearly levelled right at the end, but Gary Brown headed over from a corner.

Darlington: Jameson, Brown, Callaghan, White, Hunter, Portas, Mitchell (sub Gibbons 63)), Scott (sub Thompson 63), Gaskell (sub Nowakowski 63), Cartman, Kneeshaw

Subs not used: Gibbons, Dowson

Kick-off at Sutton Coldfield is 3pm on Saturday. Updates from the game will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter, phone app, website and Darlo Fans Radio.