Darlo hoping for first home win of the season
⚽ MATCHDAY 5
Darlington🆚 Macclesfield
📅 Saturday, 29th August, 3 pm
🏟️ Blackwell Meadows
Match Sponsor: Darlington Foundation
Match Ball Sponsor: NXTGEN Coaching
🎟 https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/match-tickets
🔥 Match Preview
The Quakers look to find the first home win of the season as they welcome Macclesfield to Blackwell Meadows ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend doubleheader.
Darlo come into this game after a 4-2 loss on the road against league newcomers Harborough Town, with Darlington goals coming from Dylan Stephenson and Paddy McLaughlin.
Darlington’s opponents, Macclesfield, have started the season strong with three wins and one draw in the first four matches and find themselves 4th in the league table on ten points.
The Silkmen come into this fixture after a 2-1 win at home to Brackley Town with goals from Jon Ustabasi and Luke Duffy in the second half.
The two sides have met many times previously, with the most recent meeting being a 2-1 win for Macclesfield at Blackwell Meadows in March, with Darlington’s sole goal coming from Jack Maskell.
📰TEAM NEWS
Max Kilsby has suffered an MCL injury and will remain out for an extended period of time but is working on recovery.
Max Howells has a hamstring issue
Tom Platt is still recovering from hamstring issues
Will Hatfield is on track but remains several weeks out.
The injured players were in for assessment and treatment on Thursday evening, but all remain several weeks away from returning.
👤 Player Spotlight
Luke Duffy has had a strong start to his National League North campaign. He has three goals in four games, including the winner against Brackley Town on Saturday as The Silkmen won all three points. He also scored a brace against Radcliffe and has been their standout player so far.
Christian Dibble is the man in between the sticks and has only conceded 2 goals this season. He was a big reason as to why Kidderminster Harriers were promoted last season, having kept the most clean sheets in the league.
📈 Recent results
🏁 Darlington
- 22nd August 2026: Harborough Town 4-2 Darlington (Stephenson, McLaughlin)
- 18th August 2026: Darlington 0-1 Chester
- 15th August 2026: Bedford 2-3 Darlington (McLaughlin x2, Stanton)
- 8th August 2026: Darlington 1 (Howells) Worksop Town 2
- 1st August 2026 Pre-Season: Dunston 2-0 Darlington
🔵MACCLESFIELD
- 22nd August 2026: Macclesfield 2 (Ustabasi, Duffy) Brackley Town 1
- 18th August 2026: Spalding United 0-0 Macclesfield
- 15th August 2026: Macclesfield 2 (Duffy x2) Radcliffe 1
- 8th August 2026: Marine 0-1 Macclesfield (Shrimpton)
- 1st August 2026 Pre-Season: Macclesfield 2 (George, Heathcote) FC United 0
📊 League Records
🏁 Darlington
- Position: 19th
- Played: 4
- Wins: 1
- Draws: 0
- Losses: 3
- Goals For: 6
- Goals Against: 9
- Goal Difference: -3
- Top Scorer: McLaughlin (3)
- Points: 3
HOME FORM (LAST SEASON):
- Position: 12th
- Played: 23
- Wins: 9
- Draws: 5
- Losses: 9
- Goals For: 42
- Goals Against: 35
- Points: 32
🟡MACCLESFIELD
- Position: 4th
- Played: 4
- Wins: 3
- Draw: 1
- Losses: 0
- Goals For: 5
- Goals Against: 2
- Goal Difference: 3
- Top Scorer: Duffy (3)
- Points: 10
AWAY FORM (LAST SEASON):
- Position: 7th
- Played: 23
- Wins: 11
- Draws: 4
- Losses: 8
- Goals For: 39
- Goals Against: 38
- Points: 37
🤝 Recent Games between the clubs
- 3rd March 2026: Darlington 1 (Maskell) Macclesfield 2
- 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
🔗 Advice on conduct
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/matchday-parking-near-blackwell-meadows
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-macclesfield-advice-to-supporters-1
📻 Follow the Game
You can follow the game on Darlo Fans Radio, X, and the official website.
