⚽ Matchday 44

Darlington 🆚 South Shields

📅 Friday, April 18^th, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor: Tempest Jones

 https://tempestjones.com/

Match Ball Sponsor: CKJ Interiors

https://www.facebook.com/p/CKJ-interiors-Ltd-100054387616804/

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

🔥 Match Preview

Darlington look to do the double over South Shields when they welcome The Mariners to Blackwell Meadows on Good Friday.

The Quakers come into the game after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Chester, where an early Will McGowan goal wasn’t enough.

At home this season, Darlo have made Blackwell Meadows a tough ground to visit with only three losses in 21 games.

South Shields find themselves in 16^th place with no wins in their last six matches.

The Mariners will want to get the better of the Quakers for the first time since 2017.

Away from home this season, South Shields find themselves 21^st in the league with only six wins and one draw in 21 games.

In the first meeting between the teams this season on New Year's Day, Darlo came out on top thanks to a Cedric Main goal. 

There will be a minute's appreciation before the game in memory of the Darlington fans and ex players who have passed in the last year.

📰 Team News

Ben Andreucci and Andrew Nelson are both out for the season because of injury

Scott Barrow is expected to be fit after suffering an arm injury last Saturday against Chester

Elliot Forbes is fit again after injury

👤 Player Spotlight

The Mariners have prolific goalscorer Paul Blackett in their arsenal. He has scored 22 goals this season and set up six goals. The Quakers will be hoping to keep him quiet like they did in the reverse fixture.

In the middle, Shields have club captain Rob Briggs, who has 5 goal contributions this season. 

📈 Recent Results

🏁 Darlington

• 12^th April: Chester 2 Darlington 1 (McGowan)
• https://youtu.be/udK7cm421aY?si=ZU4zFiPTaDZIC0Bj
• 5^th April: Darlington 4 (Maskell 2, Kelly, Hetherington) Farsley 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Y_KKVMGcE&t=12s
• 29^th March: Warrington 2 Darlington 3 (McGowan, Main, Storey)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voy0RAVCg-M
• 25^th March: Darlington 1 (Kelly) Chorley 1
• https://youtu.be/2VmJOAwZfyA?si=UYPu8JwVathg-6ey
• 22^nd March: Darlington 2 (Cornish, Nelson) Rushall 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcDKk_89pSY

🟣 South Shields

• 12^th April: South Shields 0 Southport 0
• 5^th April: South Shields 0 Brackley 1
• 29^th March: Rushall Olympic 2 South Shields 1 (Blackett)
• 22^nd March: Leamington 2 South Shields 0
• 18^th March: South Shields 1 (Blackett) Oxford City 2
• 15^th March: South Shields 0 Kidderminster 5

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 11^th
• Played: 43
• Wins: 17
• Draws: 14
• Losses: 12
• Goals For: 57
• Goals Against: 51
• Goal Difference: 6
• Points: 65

🏠Home Form: 

• Played: 21
• Won: 10
• Drawn: 8
• Lost: 3
• Goals For: 33
• Goals Against: 23
• Goal Difference: +10
• Points: 38

🟣 South Shields

• Position: 16^th
• Played: 43
• Wins: 16
• Draws: 5
• Losses: 22
• Goals For: 58
• Goals Against: 66
• Goal Difference: -8
• Points: 53

🚌 Away Form: 

• Played: 21
• Won: 6
• Drawn: 1
• Lost: 14
• Goals For: 25
• Goals Against: 41
• Goal Difference: -16
• Points: 19

🤝 Recent Games Between the Two

• 1^st January 2025: South Shields 0 Darlington 1 (Main)
• https://youtu.be/qsGO5RuT_Hg?si=CEvJrggfe0KQrpR_
• 17^th February 2024: South Shields 0 Darlington 4 (Hatfield, Main, Griffiths, Curry)
• https://youtu.be/4FhPZ09RzVA?si=CeYVU83o5wjWs93k
• 28^th August 2023: Darlington 2 (Curry, Nelson) South Shields 2
• https://youtu.be/InYowzpcMos?si=MPnht9h2Zg8KgNaQ
• 16^th September 2017: Darlington 0 South Shields 3
• https://youtu.be/VOzZgq474Hw?si=-cWb4Re51oLXeb1W
• 5^th January 2013: South Shields 0 Darlington 3 (Brown, Tait, Purewal)
• 10^th October 2012: Darlington 2 (Scott, Johnson) South Shields 1
• https://youtu.be/kvHQ38TrMj4?si=JgDMSs6ap-eZId9v

🔗 Advice on conduct

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

📻 Follow the Game

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