Darlo hoping to start the new year with a win

⚽ matchday 25

Darlington 🆚 Macclesfield

📅 Saturday, January 3rd, 3pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

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

🔥 Match Preview

The Quakers look to start the new year with a win as they welcome Macclesfield to Blackwell Meadows.

Darlo come into this game after a competitive contest against top of the league South Shields, where it nearly looked like the comeback was on after Cedric Main scored with less than a minute left in the game. Still, ultimately, the Mariners held on to the three points.

At home this season, the Quakers have won four and drawn five in 12 games, which puts them 13th in the home form table with 25 goals scored and 19 conceded for a total of 17 points from a possible 36.

Darlington’s opponents, Macclesfield, have been a good addition to the league and are 15th in the league after playing 21 games with 30 points, which for a newly promoted team is a good place to be.

The Silkmen come into this game after two back-to-back 2-0 losses against Chester and Buxton, but they will be wanting to find some form with an FA Cup game against Premier League opposition and current holders Crystal Palace on the 10th.

Away from home this season, Macclesfield have won three and drawn three in ten away games with 11 goals scored and 16 conceded for a total of 12 points gained from a possible 30.

The two clubs have met this season already, when The Silkmen won 2-1 after Quakers conceded an early penalty, Darlo pulled one back through Jack Maskell, but a late winner from D’Mani Mellor meant The Quakers left Moss Lane with nothing.

 

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is on loan at Shildon.

Will Hatfield is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Jack Maskell  is out with a shin injury.

Scott Barrow is hoping to overcome a knee injury.

Aidan Rutledge will return after missing the midweek game because of family reasons.

 

👤 Player Spotlight

The top scorer for The Silkmen this season is Danny Elliott, who has scored 15 goals and has two assists. He scored in the reverse fixture at The Leasing.com Stadium when he netted from the penalty spot five minutes in. His last goal came against Bedford Town in a 2-1 victory for Macclesfield.

Paul Dawson is an engine in the Macclesfield midfield who looks to control the game and likes to carry the ball. He contributes both defensively and offensively, and has got four goals and four assists this season. On 4th November against Peterborough Sports, he got himself a goal and an assist, in his side's 3-1 victory.

 

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

 

🔵Macclesfield

  • 30th December 2025: Chester 2-0 Macclesfield
  • 26th December 2025: Macclesfield 0-2 Buxton
  • 16th December 2025: Bedford 1-2 Macclesfield (Johnson, Elliott)
  • 13th December 2025 FA Trophy 3R: South Shields 0-1 Macclesfield (Duffy)
  • 10th December 2025: King’s Lynn 1-1 Macclesfield (McLeod)

 

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

  • Position: 6th
  • Played: 24
  • Wins: 10
  • Draws: 6
  • Losses: 8
  • Goals For: 45
  • Goals Against: 39
  • Goal Difference: 6
  • Top Scorer: Maskell (8)
  • Points: 36

HOME FORM:

  • Position: 13th
  • Played: 12
  • Wins: 4
  • Draws: 5
  • Losses: 3
  • Goals For: 25
  • Goals Against: 19
  • Points: 17

🔵Macclesfield

  • Position: 15th
  • Played: 21
  • Wins: 8
  • Draw: 6
  • Losses: 7
  • Goals For: 27
  • Goals Against: 30
  • Goal Difference: -3
  • Top Scorer: Elliott (11)
  • Points: 30

AWAY FORM:

  • Position: 15th
  • Played: 10
  • Wins: 3
  • Draws: 3
  • Losses: 4
  • Goals For: 11
  • Goals Against: 16
  • Points: 12

 

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

  • 30th August 2025: Macclesfield 2-1 Darlington (Maskell)
  • 1st May 2010: Macclesfield 0-2 Darlington (Miller, Smith)
  • 3rd October 2009: Darlington 0-1 Macclesfield
  • 7th March 2009: Darlington 1 (Poole) Macclesfield 2
  • 30th August 2008: Macclesfield 0-6 Darlington (Clarke x4, Austin, O.G.)

 

🔗 Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-macclesfield-advice-to-supporters

 

📻 Follow the Game

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