Quakers take on Skelmersdale on Saturday at Heritage Park, with their third promotion in four seasons in their sights.

Quakers have won promotion from the Northern League and NPL First Division North in the last three seasons, and now they’re aiming to reach the National League North by winning promotion from the NPL Premier Division. “Let’s go for three in four” as the slogan says!

And now the club is encouraging fans to bring a friend with them, or to encourage other fans who haven’t attended much this season for the game against a team that is 18th in the table.

Manager Martin Gray said; “We’re now into a very important spell of the season, as we are catching up on our home games.

“We’re fourth in the table at the moment, but that isn’t enough for us. The players and the management team are aiming to win the title, and we believe that we can do so.

“There has been some great football this season at Heritage Park. We had a fantastic win over Blyth in August, we beat Workington – who are challenging us for promotion – by 4-0 in October, and earlier this week we defeated Buxton 3-1. We could have scored more goals, because we played at fast tempo and created plenty of chances.

“We have around an average of 1,000 fans who watch us regularly in a great family atmosphere at Heritage Park. We would love to see another 200 or 300 come along to matches and give their encouragement to the players.”

Quakers still have 11 home games to play. They have already won eight and drawn two of their twelve so far, scoring 27 goals. That’s an average of more than two per game – so fans should see a goal or two!

Darlington are looking to make it four wins in a row on Saturday.

The Quakers have won their last three games against Colwyn Bay, Marine and Buxton to move into the playoff places. The side are now 11 points off league leaders Blyth Spartans with four games in hand after Blyth lost 2-0 at Workington on Tuesday night.

Darlington team on Tuesday:

Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Mitchell (sub Portas 84), Scott, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 86), Cartman (sub Dowson 80), Thompson. Subs: Provett, Nowakowski

[caption id="attachment_17070" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nathan Cartman heads the second goal against Buxton[/caption]

Goals: Gaskell, Cartman, Galbraith

Martin Gray welcomes back Amar Purewal into the squad for the game, as the striker makes his long awaited return from injury. Purewal, who has been one of the key players in the Quakers' success over the last few seasons, has been out of action for over a year and all Darlington fans will be delighted to see him back involved with the squad.

Skelmersdale United travel to Heritage Park currently 18^th in the league table, seven points off the relegation zone. They started the season well, winning their first three games, however, they have struggled to replicate that form since.

So far in 2016 Skelmersdale have lost four of their seven games in all competitions. However, they did beat Hyde United in the league on Tuesday night, 2-1.

Skelmersdale’s recent form:

February 2nd Hyde United (home) won 2-1. Hazeldine 2

Team: Fearon, Fernandes, Corrigan, McIntosh, Rendell, Booth, Kinsella, Strickland, Hazeldine, Woolcott, Almond Subs (not used) Kusaloka, Murphy, Donaldson, Vassallo, Gyimah

January 26th Ramsbottom (home) drew 1-1. Hazeldine

January 23rd Stourbridge (away) lost 1-3. Hazeldine

January 19th Colwyn Bay (away) won 4-1. Almond 3, Hazeldine

January 13th FA Trophy AFC Fylde (home) lost 0-4

January 9th Salford City (away) lost 0-4

When the two sides met back in September, Graeme Armstrong bundled home a dramatic equaliser for Darlington in injury time. Skelmersdale had led just before halftime, but Armstrong’s goal ensured the Quakers earned a 1-1 draw.

Last time we met

Skelmersdale 1 Darlington 1

A stoppage time goal by striker Graeme Armstrong earned Quakers a point at Skelmersdale.

There weren’t any real chances in the game until the 21^st minute when Nathan Cartman intercepted a back pass, but Skelmersdale keeper Martin Fearon managed to save. From the corner that followed, skipper Kevin Burgess headed straight at the keeper.

Nothing much was seen of the Skelmersdale attack until the half hour mark, when Isaac Kusaloka headed at Darlington keeper Peter Jameson.

Quakers then had a five minute spell to forget. Stephen Thompson went off injured and was replaced by Adam Mitchell, then just on half time Jameson saved from Kusaloka, and Chris Hunter’s clearance hit a Skelmersdale player and rebounded into the net.

Quakers had the first chance of the second half, but Graeme Armstrong fired over the bar from an Adam Mitchell cross.

Skelmersdale nearly made it 2-0 when Danny Mitchley had a chance, but Jameson blocked with his legs.

Armstrong had another chance, but this time he couldn’t get his header on target from an Adam Mitchell cross.

However, Armstrong got the equaliser in time added on, when he bundled the ball home from a Galbraith corner.

[caption id="attachment_17069" align="alignnone" width="300"] Graeme Armstrong celebrates at Skelmersdale[/caption]

Darlington:

Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Portas, Burgess, White, Youhill (sub Scott 75), Turnbull, Armstrong, Cartman, Thompson (sub Mitchell 41)

Subs not used: Watson, Gibbons, Provett

Elsewhere in the division league leaders Blyth Spartans head to Hyde United.

Kick-off at Heritage Park on Saturday is 3pm, updates will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter and app.