The Quakers look for revenge against Merthyr at home

⚽ matchday 28

Darlington 🆚 Merthyr Town

📅 Saturday, January  31st, 3 pm

Match sponsor: Gavin Ellis

Matchball sponsor: Nathaniel Sutcliffe

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

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

🔥 Match Preview

Darlo return home to Blackwell Meadows after two away games when they welcome Merthyr Town on Saturday in a big game for the teams in the playoffs.

The Quakers come into this game after a 1-1 draw at Worksop on Tuesday night. An early goal from Cedric Main meant he overtook Jack Maskell for the top league scorer in the team with nine. 

At home this season, Darlo had a shaky start to the league but have improved and picked up some big wins. They are 14th in the home form table with five wins and five draws in 13 games, with 28 goals scored and 20 goals conceded for a total of 20 points.

Darlington’s opponents, Merthyr, have had a brilliant season so far as a newly promoted team and are 3rd in the table with 18 wins and 2 draws in 29 games.

The Martyrs come into this game off a 4-1 loss at home to Telford, and before that were beaten 1-0 by Southport away from home.

When on the road this season, Merthyr are one of the strongest, sitting 3rd in the away form table with nine wins and one draw in 14 games with 35 goals scored, and 25 goals conceded.

The last time the two clubs met was back in November, where, after an early red card for Tye Barton, Merthyr scored twice before Jack Maskell pulled one back in the second half, and it almost looked like Darlington might get something with ten men, but a third goal from Merthyr meant The Quakers left empty-handed.

 

 

📰TEAM NEWS

Alfie Myers-Smith is on loan at Shildon till the end of January.

Will Maddison is on loan to Crook until the end of January

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

Matty Cornish is out with a hamstring injury.

New loan signing Tom Tweedy is here until the end of the season.

New loan goalkeeper Rory Watson will probably make his debut after signing on loan for Quakers.

Elliot Forbes is hoping to return after illness.

 

👤 Player Spotlight

Since the departure of top scorer Ricardo Rees, Lewys Twamley has been the main threat for the Martyrs. He has nine goals and 14 assists this season, and can play in various roles across the frontline and just behind. He last scored in their 2-0 victory over Peterborough Sports, where he scored both of the goals.

Another attacker they have is young striker Cawley Cox, who can be utilised as a target man. He scored when the Quakers visited Penydarren Park, turning on the edge of the box, rifling the ball into the top corner. He recently scored a hat-trick against Worksop Town in their 5-3 victory over The Tigers.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

 

⚪️merthyr

  • 27th January 2026: Merthyr 1 (Jarvis) Telford 4
  • 24th January 2026: Southport 1-0 Merthyr
  • 17th January 2026: Merthyr 2 (Twamley X2) Peterborough Sports 0
  • 10th January 2026: Worksop 3-5 Merthyr (Cox X3, Smerdon, Twamley)
  • 3rd January 2026: Merthyr 1 (Evans) Kings Lynn 0

 

 

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

  • Position: 5th
  • Played: 27
  • Wins: 12
  • Draws: 7
  • Losses: 8            
  • Goals For: 51
  • Goals Against: 42
  • Goal Difference: 9
  • Top Scorer: Main (9)
  • Points: 43

HOME FORM:

  • Position: 14th
  • Played: 13
  • Wins: 5
  • Draws: 5
  • Losses: 3
  • Goals For: 28
  • Goals Against: 20
  • Points: 20

⚪️Merthyr

  • Position: 3rd
  • Played: 29
  • Wins: 18
  • Draw: 2
  • Losses: 9
  • Goals For: 65
  • Goals Against: 49
  • Goal Difference: 16
  • Top Scorer: Twamley (9)
  • Points: 56

AWAY FORM:

  • Position: 3rd
  • Played: 14
  • Wins: 9
  • Draws: 1
  • Losses: 4
  • Goals For: 35
  • Goals Against: 25
  • Points: 28

 

 

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

 

🔗 Advice on conduct

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

 

📻 Follow the Game

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