Darlington take on one of their closest challengers at Blackwell Meadows on Boxing Day.

Quakers are top of the table at Christmas for the first time since 2012, but Scarborough, who were promoted from the NPL last season, are in fourth place, and possess the third best away record in the league.

Please note that there is a big crowd of around 3,000 expected. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get in the ground, as queues are expected at the turnstiles.

Follow our guidance here:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/if-youre-going-to-the-game-on-boxing-day

We'd like to thank Tempest Jones for being our match sponsors -- you can learn more about them here:

https://tempestjones.com/

League position:  top (played 23, won 13, drawn 5, lost 5, goals for 43 against 27, points 44)

Home form:  played 11, won 6, drawn 3, lost 2, goals for 20 against 13, points 21, 7^th best in the league

Leading scorers (all matches) Mark Beck 15, Jack Lambert 13, Jacob Hazel 9

News:  

• Junior Mondal returns to the squad after being ineligible for the Spennymoor Trophy game
• Jake Lawlor is hoping to have recovered from illness
• David Wheater is out because of injury
• Keeper Tommy Taylor is up against his old club

Here are Darren Holloway's thoughts on the game: 

Don't forget to buy your 50/50 tickets!

https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/virtual-5050-draw

Recent matches

17^th December FA Trophy Spennymoor (away) won 3-1 Hazel 2, Lambert

Highlights: https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-fa-trophy-tie

13^th December Southport (home) postponed, rearranged for 31^st January

10^th December v Gloucester (away) won 6-2  Lambert 3, Beck, Liddle, Dodds

6^th December v Curzon Ashton (away) won 2-0 Hazel, Lambert

2^nd December v Kettering (home) drew 2-2 Hazel 2

26^th November v Hereford (away) won 2-1 Liddle, Lambert

19^th November v Alfreton Trophy won 4-1 Lambert 2, Hedley, Rivers

12^th November v Fylde (home) lost 1-2 Hazel

Scarborough

League position 4^th (played 22, won 11, drawn 6, lost 5, goals for 40 against 31, points 39)

away form:  played 11, won 5, drawn 2, lost 4 goals for 15, against 15, points 17 3^rd best in the league

Recent results

17^th December v Bradford PA (away) postponed

10^th December v Brackley (home) postponed

6^th December v Peterborough Sports (home) won 2-1 (Wells, McGuckin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voUc7Um4F54

3^rd December v Southport (away) drew 1-1 (Tear)

26^th November v Chester (home) lost 1-3 (Watson)

19^th November FA Trophy Marine (away) lost 0-1

Recent meetings between the clubs

April 2015 Scarborough 1 Darlington 2 (Hatch, Cartman)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tteDJQ7c0fk

December 2014 Darlington 3 Scarborough 0 Armstrong 2, Mitchell

November 2014 FA Trophy Scarborough 0 Darlington 4 (Hatch, Thompson, Purewal, Armstrong)

April 1999 Scarborough 0 Darlington 2 (Carruthers, Gabbiadini)

November 1998 Darlington 3 (Carter, Gabbiadini, Barnard) Scarborough 0

You can follow the game on Darlo Fans Radio, the official Twitter feed and the official website