⚽ Matchday 9

DARLINGTON 🆚 CHESTER

📅 Saturday, September 20^th, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadow

Match Sponsor: Unknown Creative

Match Ball Sponsor: My Property Box

🎟  https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/match-tickets

🔥 Match Preview

The Quakers look to gain that elusive first home win of the season when they welcome Chester to Blackwell Meadows.

Darlo come into this one after a trip away to Bootle in the FA Cup, where, after a poor first half which saw Bootle take the lead, the Quakers were able to produce a comeback thanks to two goals from Will McGowan and one for Tom Allan to help them walk away 3-1 winners.

Darlington’s opponents, Chester, come into this game after a 2-1 win away at Stalybridge in the FA Cup, where goals from Tom Peers and Jack Bainbridge helped The Seals get the win. They are currently 17^th in the league with two wins and three draws after eight games.

Calum McIntyre’s Seals have added keeper George Murray-Jones on loan from Nottingham Forest and fullback Hayden Carson on loan from Wolves. They have also added new firepower in the forward department with the signing of Pat Jones following his release from Exeter City.

The last time Chester came to Blackwell Meadows, the Quakers were 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Cedric Main.

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is out with a knee injury

Elliot Forbes will have a fitness test on a shoulder injury

Toby Lees is expected to be fit after picking up a head injury

Matty Cornish is out because of injury.

👤 Player Spotlight

The main man in the Chester midfield is Declan Weeks, who will look to control the game and dictate the play. He will also be a threat from set pieces, with him having an eye for goal from them. He has registered one assist this season and will be looking to add to that.

Top scorer for The Seals is Dylan Mottley-Henry, who has found the back of the net three times, with his most recent goal coming in a 1-1 draw against Scarborough. His other two goals came on the opening day when he led the Chester charge against Peterborough Sports.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

• 13^th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR: Bootle 1-3 Darlington (McGowan x2, Allan)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVW54KYx6Y
• 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

🔵 Chester

• 13^th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR: Stalybridge 1-2 Chester (Peers, Bainbridge)
• 6^th September 2025: Chester 1 (Mottley-Henry) Scarborough 1
• 2^nd September 2025: Fylde 2-2 Chester (Jones x2)
• 30^th August 2025: Worksop 2-1 Chester (Rawlinson)
• 25^th August 2025: Chester 2 (Burgess, Woodthorpe) Oxford City 1

📊 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

🔵Chester

• Position: 17^th
• Played: 8
• Wins: 2
• Draws: 3
• Losses: 3
• Goals For: 10
• Goals Against: 16
• Goal Difference: -6
• Top Scorer:  Mottley-Henry (3)
• Points: 9

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

• 12^th April 2025: Chester2-1 Darlington (McGowan)
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=udK7cm421aY 
• 5^th November 2024: Darlington 1 (Main) Chester 0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiYOGC0ZWJI 
• 20^th April 2024: Chester 0-0 Darlington
• 11^th November 2023: Darlington 3 (O.G., Salkeld, Ngandu) Chester 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=688oo4lU32k 
• 1^st April 2023: Darlington 1 (Lawlor) Chester 2

🔗 Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/advice-to-fans-darlington-v-chester

📻 Follow the Game

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