The Quakers look to end the year positively against the league leaders

⚽ matchday 24

Darlington 🆚 South Shields

📅 Tuesday, December 30th, 7.45 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor: EBAC

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

🔥 Match Preview

Darlo look to end the year with a home win against top of the table South Shields.

The Quakers come into this game after a 1-0 win on the road on Boxing Day against Scarborough Athletic, thanks to a goal from Toby Lees in the first half from a corner.

At Blackwell Meadows this season, Darlo have been hard to beat with only two losses in 11 home games, which puts them 11th in the home form table with 24 goals scored and 17 conceded.

Darlington’s opponents, South Shields, have had a very strong season so far and are top of the table with 52 points.

The Mariners come into this game full of confidence after a 6-0 thrashing of Spennymoor Town.

Away from home this season, South Shields have been a strong unit with seven wins and two draws in 11 games, which puts them third in the away form table with 20 goals scored and 10 conceded.

The last time the two clubs met at Blackwell Meadows, both teams settled for a point with a 1-1 draw, with both teams scoring in the first half,  Jack Maskell for Darlo and Will Jenkins for The Mariners.

 

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is on loan at Shildon, Will Maddison is on loan at Crook.

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

Jack Maskell remains out with a shin injury

 

👤 Player Spotlight

The top scorer for The Mariners this season is Cedwyn Scott, who was playing in League Two only a couple of years ago. He has 15 goals and three assists already this season and has been scoring for fun alongside Paul Blackett. He is coming off a hat trick in their 6-0 victory over Spennymoor.

Cain Sykes has been a vital addition to the Shields squad after his release from Middlesbrough, he has also been a big part to play in the league's best defence with them only conceding 18 goals at the halfway point of the season.

The South Shields squad also contains former Darlo loanees Caden Kelly and Dan Dodds.

 

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

 

🟣 South Shields 

  • 26th December 2025: South Shields 6 (Scott x3, Alcock, Dodds, Blackett) Spennymoor 0
  • 20th December 2025: Chester 1-3 South Shields (Blackett, Jenkins, Scott)
  • 16th December 2025: South Shields 2 (Blackett, Bainbridge) Peterborough Sports 1
  • 13th December 2025 FA Trophy 3R: South Shields 0-1 Macclesfield
  • 6th December 2025: South Shields 1 (Morse) Kidderminster 2
  • 25th November 2025: Worksop 0-3 South Shields (Gordon, Jenkins x2)

 

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

  • Position: 6th
  • Played: 23
  • Wins: 10
  • Draws: 6
  • Losses: 7
  • Goals For: 44
  • Goals Against: 37
  • Goal Difference: 7
  • Top Scorer: Maskell (8)
  • Points: 36

HOME FORM:

  • Position: 11th
  • Played: 11
  • Wins: 4
  • Draws: 5
  • Losses: 2
  • Goals For: 24
  • Goals Against: 17
  • Points: 17

🟣 South Shields

  • Position: 1st
  • Played: 23
  • Wins: 16
  • Draw: 4
  • Losses: 3
  • Goals For: 52
  • Goals Against: 18
  • Goal Difference: 34
  • Top Scorer: Scott (15)
  • Points: 52

AWAY FORM:

  • Position: 3rd
  • Played: 11
  • Wins: 7
  • Draws: 2
  • Losses: 2
  • Goals For: 20
  • Goals Against: 10
  • Points: 23

 

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

  • 18th April 2025: Darlington 1 (Maskell) South Shields 1
  • 1st January 2025: South Shields 0-1 Darlington (Main)
  • 17th February 2024: South Shields 0-4 Darlington (Hatfield, Main, Griffiths, Curry)
  • 28th August 2023: Darlington 2 (Curry, Nelson) South Shields 2
  • 16th September 2017 FA Cup 2QR: Darlington 0-3 South Shields

 

🔗 Advice on conduct

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

📻 Follow the Game

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