⚽ Matchday 13

Darlington 🆚 Southport

📅 Saturday, October 25^th, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor:

Match Ball Sponsor: Queen Street Shopping Centre

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

🔥 Match Preview

Darlington look to rebound again after a disappointing loss away at Radcliffe, when they welcome Southport to Blackwell Meadows, as they continue to look for our first home league win.

The Quakers lost 3-1 away to Radcliffe on Tuesday night, when a strong start in the second half from The Boro, with two quick goals, killed any momentum Darlington had.

Darlo are still looking for their first league win at home and currently are at the bottom of the home form table, which the staff and players want to improve on Saturday.

Darlington’s opponents, Southport, haven’t started this season strongly and currently find themselves 23rd in the league, but are level on points with Oxford City and Peterborough Sports on eight.

The Sandgrounders come into the game after picking up a draw at home against 6th-placed Chorley, when, after being 1-0 down, Arthur Gnahoua was able to salvage a point for Southport with a great finish on his left foot.

Away from home this season, Southport have won one game and lost five of their six games, with three goals scored and 11 conceded.

The last time the clubs met at Blackwell Meadows, Darlington walked out 3-0 winners thanks to a Will McGowan brace and an Andrew Nelson goal.

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith had a setback, but should be joining the squad soon

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

Keeper Peter Jameson will have a fitness test on a hamstring injury

Defender Kallum Griffiths is out with a groin injury

Defender Josh Scott will have a fitness test on a groin injury

👤 Player Spotlight

Southport struggled at the start of the season, but their goal scorer on Tuesday night, Arthur Gnahoua, has scored twice this season. He has a wealth of experience playing in the Football League, most recently for Grimsby.

Former Darlington striker Jim Simms features for The Sandgrounders, with him scoring in their FA Cup defeat to Halifax Town. Jim played for the club in the 2023-24 season on a month-long loan from Hull City when Josh Gowling was Darlington manager.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

• 21^st October 2025: Radcliffe 3-1 Darlington (Lees)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs4eA6Hkyc0
• 18^th October 2025: Leamington 0-1  Darlington (Maskell)
• https://youtu.be/h-EzwGpoM4o?si=NJH0_qUZWccOfuDw
• 11^th October 2025 FA Cup 4QR: Darlington 0-6 Telford
• https://youtu.be/B7Ag3TEwWV8?si=QLM-wr9EmmdJTBQ-
• 4^th October 2025: Buxton 1-0 Darlington
• https://youtu.be/99UK72d8Zcw?si=AaES5oZb_Mrs3mWW
• 30^th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR Replay: Darlington 3 (Main, Platt, McGowan) Fylde 1
• https://youtu.be/7kroysgzDY8?si=jJibrbWY-3UI5fX7

🟡 Southport

• 21^st October 2025: Southport 1(Gnahoua) Chorley 1
• 18^th October 2025: Oxford City 1-2 Southport (Thibaut, Slew)
• 11^th October 2025 FA Cup 4QR: Southport 1 (Simms) Halifax 3
• 4^th October 2025: Spennymoor 2-0 Southport
• 27^th September 2025: Morpeth 1-3 Southport (Slew x2, Moore)

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 17^th
• Played: 12
• Wins: 3
• Draws: 4
• Losses: 5
• Goals For: 18
• Goals Against: 18
• Goal Difference: 0
• Top Scorer: Maskell (5)
• Points: 13

HOME FORM:

• Position: 24^th
• Played: 5
• Wins: 0
• Draws: 3
• Losses: 2
• Goals For: 7
• Goals Against: 10
• Points: 3

🟡 Southport

• Position: 23^rd
• Played: 12
• Wins: 2
• Draw: 2
• Losses: 7
• Goals For: 10
• Goals Against: 18
• Goal Difference: -8
• Top Scorer: Gnahoua (2)
• Points: 8

AWAY FORM:

• Position: 22^nd
• Played: 6
• Wins: 1
• Draws: 0
• Losses: 5
• Goals For: 3
• Goals Against: 11
• Points: 3

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

• 15^th February 2025: Southport 0-0 Darlington
• 21^st September 2024: Darlington 3 (McGowan x2, Nelson) Southport 0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmptgxvcd2s
• 6^th April 2024: Darlington 2 (Main, Cornish) Southport 0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdcbunm_csw
• 9^th January 2024: Southport 2-0 Darlington
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5btuojzvxm4
• 31^st January 2023: Darlington 0-0 Southport

🔗 Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darlington-v-southport-advice-about-behaviour

📻 Follow the Game

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