Darlington v Buxton Preview

By Ray Simpson

Darlington v Buxton Preview

Darlington look to move into the play-off places on Tuesday night when they host Buxton at Heritage...

Let's GO for 3 in 4!

Darlington look to move into the play-off places on Tuesday night when they host Buxton at Heritage Park.

The Quakers won 1-0 at Marine on Saturday thanks to a Kevin Burgess goal and another win would see the side move up to fourth in the league. Manager Martin Gray kept an unchanged team for the fifth successive game on Saturday.

Darlington: Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Mitchell (sub Portas 60 mins), Scott, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 85), Cartman (sub Dowson 60), Thompson

Subs: Provett, Nowakowski

 

[caption id="attachment_16879" align="alignnone" width="300"]Kevin Burgess celebrates at Marine 2 Kevin Burgess celebrates his winner[/caption]

 

The two sides met on the opening day of the season in what would prove to be a tough start for the Quakers in the Evo-Stik Premier. Buxton won the game 2-0 with a goal in each half from Ash Burbeary and Liam Hardy. The game at Heritage Park was due to take place in November, but was postponed.

[caption id="attachment_16895" align="alignnone" width="300"]David Dowson and Ricky Ravenhill David Dowson and Ricky Ravenhill[/caption]

 

Buxton had started the season well, but have fallen away and are heading towards a mid-table finish. They currently  sit in 12th place in the league table having won five of their thirteen games away from home.

They struggled in January, failing to win in any of their six matches in all competitions. They appeared to be heading for a victory at home to Sutton Coldfield at the weekend, but threw away a 2-0 lead in the final three minutes to draw 2-2.

They include former Darlington midfielder Ricky Ravenhill, while another former Darlo player, Tim Ryan, is assistant manager.

Darlington manager Martin Gray said; "I want the players to continue the form that they have shown in the last two matches. We have three home games coming up, and I want nine points."

[caption id="attachment_16877" align="alignnone" width="300"]Gary Brown at Marine Gary Brown[/caption]

Buxton's last nine matches:

January 30th Sutton Coldfield (home) drew 2-2 Taylor, Barraclough

Buxton:

Glennon, Belezika, Green, Ravenhill, J Bembo-Leta, Young, Taylor, Harris, Barraclough, Hardy, Burbeary.

Subs: Wiles, Doran, F Bembo-Leta, Grayson, Wright

January 26th IDSL Stamford (away) lost 1-4 Wiles

January 23rd Salford (away) lost 0-2

January 19th Barwell (away) lost 0-1

January 2nd Ashton United (away) lost 1-3 Young.

December 28th Nantwich (home) won 3-1. Burbeary, Bembo-Leta, Burrell

December 26th Matlock (away) won 2-1. Hardy, Barraclough

December 19th Mickleover Sports (home) won 4-1. Hardy 3, Barraclough

December 15th Barwell (home) won 5-1. Hardy 3, Barraclough 2.

Elsewhere in the league on Tuesday the top two go head-to-head when Workington host Blyth Spartans.

Kick-off on Tuesday night at Heritage Park is 7:45pm, updates will be made from Facebook, Twitter, on Darlo Fans' radio, the official website and the club’s app, then there'll be after match reaction.