⚽ FA CUP Second Round Qualifying

BOOTLE  ? DARLINGTON

? Saturday, September 13^th, 3 pm

?️ Berry Street Garage Stadium

?  https://fixr.co/event/emirates-fa-cup-2nd-qr-bootle-v-darlington-tickets-417042012

? Match Preview

FA Cup fever is taking over Darlo as the Quakers head back to the North-West to take on Northern Premier League Division One West side Bootle FC.

The Quakers enter the competition this round and will be looking to create more memories in a Cup that has given us games like Walsall and wins over Swindon Town and Tamworth in recent years.

Darlo come into this game after a 1-1 draw at home to Hereford, when a Jack Maskell goal wasn’t enough to stop Hereford from getting an equaliser when Sam Osborne found the top corner with an outside-of-the-boot shot.

Away from home this season is where the Quakers have found their results, with two wins and one draw in four games, with nine goals scored and four goals conceded.

Darlington’s opponents, Bootle, are in the second round of qualifying after beating Silsden FC, Sheffield FC and 1874 Northwich.

The Bucks play their football in the NPL Division One West, where they are 11th after five games played, with eight goals scored and nine goals conceded.

This will be the first time the two clubs have met.

If the game ends in a draw after 90 minutes, then there will be a replay on Tuesday at Blackwell Meadows.

? Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is out with a knee injury

Will Hatfield and Josh Scott are expected to have recovered from knocks

Kallum Griffiths has recovered from injury and could be on the bench

Carlisle won't allow Dan Hopper to be cuptied

Elliot Forbes is still out with a shoulder injury

? Player Spotlight

A key man for Bootle will be the experienced Dior Angus. The 31-year-old has a wealth of experience at National League level. He most recently turned out for fellow National League North side Southport, where he scored five goals in 33 appearances.

Ben Hodkinson will be the main attacking threat for Bottle, with the forward already having four goals this season. He scored in their recent defeat against Witton Albion in their first round qualifying game in the FA Trophy.

? Recent results

?Darlington

• 6^th September 2025: Darlington 1 (Maskell) Hereford 1
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eycBXH71b4&t=161s
• 2^nd September 2025: Marine 1-4 Darlington (Allan, Maskell x2, McGowan)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sCEjS-0kLA&t=150s
• 30^th August 2025: Macclesfield 2-1 Darlington (Maskell)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BArZYjgdYhM&t=131s
• 25^th August 2025: Darlington 2 (O.G., Scott) Telford 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNEKfyeZqPo
• 23^rd August 2025: King’s Lynn 1-1 Darlington (Main)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNzMKM05nYQ&t=43s

?Bootle

• 5^th September 2025 FA Trophy 1Q: Bootle 2 (Hodkinson, Owens) Witton Albion 3
• 2^nd September 2025 FA Cup 1QR: Bootle 4 (Woolley x2, Simpson, Angus) Silsden 2
• 30^th August 2025 FA Cup 1Q: Silsden 0-0 Bootle
• 25^th August 2025 NPL West: Bootle 1 (Rankin) Lower Breck 3
• 23^rd August 2025 NPL West: Darlaston Town 1-2 Bootle (Rankin, Duffus)

? League Records

? DARLINGTON

• Position: 15^th
• Played: 8
• Wins: 2
• Draws: 3
• Losses: 3
• Goals For: 15
• Goals Against: 13
• Goal Difference: 2
• Top Scorer: Maskell (4)
• Points: 9

?BOOTLE

• Position: 11^th (NPL Division One West)
• Played: 10
• Wins: 5
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 3
• Goals For: 21
• Goals Against: 14
• Goal Difference: 7
• Top Scorer: Hodkinson (4)
• Points: 7 (NPL Division One West)

? Recent FA Cup Games

• 28^th September 2024 3QR: Darlington 1 (Hatfield) Gainsborough Trinity 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JHodUSoXd4 
• 14^th September 2024 2QR: West Didsbury & Chorlton 1-2 Darlington (Cornish, Nelson)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf_wLoYxqQU 
• 30^th September 2023 3QR: Darlington 1 (Hatfield) Scarborough 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KolFuGWkZM 
• 15^th September 2023 2QR: Darlington 3 (Platt, Lees, Hazel) Workington 1
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNobquRdVMI 
• 1^st October 2022 3QR: Hyde United 1-0 Darlington
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSTIFyySqK4 

 Bootle's recent record in the Cup (thanks to the FCHD)

2021-22   PRE   A F C LIVERPOOL                     A    3-2
          1Q    F C UNITED OF MANCHESTER            H    2-2
          1Qr   F C UNITED OF MANCHESTER            A    2-3
2022-23   PRE   CONGLETON TOWN                      A    0-0
          PREr  CONGLETON TOWN                      H    1-4
2023-24   EP    PRESTWICH HEYS                      A    1-3
2024-25   PRE   CITY OF LIVERPOOL                   H    1-3

? Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/advice-on-conduct-bootle-v-darlington

? Follow the Game

You can follow the game on Darlo Fans Radio, X, and the official website.