"Bucks aiming to keep free-scoring Quakers quiet"

Match Date : February 4th, 2023 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : Blackwell Meadows
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks travel to County Durham this weekend to face promotion hopefuls Darlington at Blackwell Meadows.

After five games Darlo and the Bucks had identical records, mirroring each other result for result – win, draw, loss, loss, draw. The fortunes of both clubs have been a little different since then, though, with the Quakers currently sat in 3rd place, three points off top spot, while the Bucks battle to get off the bottom.

Boss Alun Armstrong was appointed by the Quakers in May 2020, shortly after he’d guided Blyth Spartans to the playoffs. And while Armstrong’s Darlington haven’t previously hit the heights of his Spartans side, last season saw the Quakers in playoff contention for much of the campaign before they tailed off in April and May – Darlo were winless in their final seven games, scoring only three goals in that time.

And that sequence, in addition to losing top scorer Luke Charman in January, led Armstrong to bring in some significant attacking reinforcements this summer. Dangerous target man Mark Beck joined from Harrogate Town and is the division’s top scorer with 15 league goals, while Jacob Hazel and Jack Lambert both have 12 league goals each to their name. With three player in double figures for the league campaign, it should come as no surprise that Darlo are the division’s top scorers.

Armstrong’s side turned in an impressive display in their 4-1 win at the New Bucks Head in November. And the Quakers ran out 3-0 winners when the sides met in the north east last season.

Kevin Wilkin’s men have been much better defensively over the past couple of months, conceding just seven goals in the last nine games. However, the Bucks have only scored eight in that time, so will need to improve in front of goal to start finding those crucial wins needed to start climbing the table.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.darlingtonfc.co.uk

You can buy tickets in advance via the Darlington website.

Ground Address: Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NR