⚽ Matchday 18

Darlington 🆚 Spennymoor Town

📅 Saturday, November 22^nd, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

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

🔥 Match Preview

Darlo look to continue their strong recent home form for their second of three home games in a row when they welcome local rivals Spennymoor to Blackwell Meadows.

The Quakers come into the game after another big result at home with a 5-2 win over Peterborough Sports, thanks to goals from Aidan Rutledge (2), Will McGowan, Toby Lees and another late Matty Cornish goal.

In the last three home games, Darlo have turned the corner at home with 12 goals scored and three conceded, with three big wins, which, along with a win away at Kidderminster, have helped them up to 9th in the table and two points off the playoffs.

Darlington’s opponents, Spennymoor, have had a solid start to the season and are currently 6th in the table after 16 games with eight wins and three draws, with 26 goals scored and 26 goals conceded, which has gained them 27 points so far.

The Moors come into this game after being knocked out of the FA Trophy by fellow NLN team AFC Fylde, losing 3-2 on the day, and in the league, they have won one of their last six games, with the sole win being a 1-0 victory over Peterborough Sports, thanks to a Glen Taylor penalty.

Both clubs have shared players over the years, and this year is no exception, with inform Aidan Rutledge leading the line for Darlo after spending time on loan at The Moors last season and even visiting Wembley in the final of the FA Trophy.

The last time the two clubs met was at The Brewery Field, where Spennymoor held on for a 2-1 win with Caden Kelly pulling one back through a penalty. The last time The Moors travelled to Blackwell Meadows, Darlo were 1-0 winners with Jack Maskell scoring his first ever goal for the club early in the first half from a corner with a bullet header.

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is out for at least a fortnight.

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

Tye Barton has served his three-match ban for his red card against Merthyr and is back for selection.

Darryl Ombang has returned to Leeds United after his loan spell ended.

Defender Elliot Forbes is close to full fitness.

Josh Scott is doubtful.

Kallum Griffiths may return against his old club.

👤 Player Spotlight

As previously mentioned, Darlington and Spennymoor have shared players in the past. One of these is Junior Mondal, who joined in the 2021/22 season. He had multiple loan moves to Marske United, then departed the club in 2023 to join Whitby Town. He has scored six goals this season and had one assist, with his latest goal coming against AFC Fylde in their FA Trophy defeat.

The Moors have Darlington-born Bobby Jones in goal after Brad James sustained an injury. Jones is on loan from Boston and faced The Quakers twice last season, both games ending 0-0 when he was in goal for Curzon Ashton.

Spennymoor also feature Cameron Salkeld, who made the switch from Blackwell Meadows to The Brewery Field in the summer. Cameron was a vital component in the great escape season, with Darlington looking to keep him quiet on his return to Blackwell Meadows.

The Moors management team, Graeme Lee and Ian Clark, are both former Darlington players.

Darlington defender Kallum Griffiths won several honours during his days as a Spennymoor player.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

• 18^th November 2025: Darlington 5 (Rutledge x2, McGowan, Lees, Cornish) Peterborough Sports 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTiWfTibK1M
• 15^th November 2025 FA Trophy 2R: FC United 3-2 Darlington (Rutledge, Howells)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLh8-CxcHJ4
• 8^th November 2025: Kidderminster 1-2 Darlington (Rutledge, Cornish)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01mGH9xUxHQ
• 4^th November 2025: Darlington 5 (Rutledge, McGowan, Howells, Lennon, Maskell) Worksop 1
• https://youtu.be/cuLYld0Ocpc?si=PMv3sgEqdk2VfpFN
• 1^st November 2025: Merthyr Town 3-1 Darlington (Maskell)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09vxPugKzIM&t=479s

🟠 Spennymoor Town

• 15^th November 2025 FA Trophy 2R: Spennymoor 2 (Mondal, Robson) Fylde 3
• 11^th November 2025: Alfreton 2-1 Spennymoor (Taylor)
• 8^th November 2025: Spennymoor 1(Taylor) Peterborough Sports
• 4^th November 2025: Curzon Ashton 2-2 Spennymoor (Robson, Taylor)
• 1^st November 2025 FA CUP 1R: Spennymoor 0-2 Barrow

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 9^th
• Played: 17
• Wins: 7
• Draws: 4
• Losses: 6
• Goals For: 33
• Goals Against: 25
• Goal Difference: 8
• Top Scorer: Maskell (8)
• Points: 25

HOME FORM:

• Position: 12^th
• Played: 8
• Wins: 3
• Draws: 3
• Losses: 2
• Goals For: 19
• Goals Against: 13
• Points: 12

🟠 SPENNYMOOR TOWN

• Position: 6^th
• Played: 16^th
• Wins: 8
• Draw: 3
• Losses: 5
• Goals For: 26
• Goals Against: 26
• Goal Difference: 0
• Top Scorer: Taylor (12)
• Points: 27

AWAY FORM:

• Position: 9^th
• Played: 8
• Wins: 3
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 3
• Goals For: 13
• Goals Against: 12
• Points: 11

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs

• 4^th March 2025: Spennymoor 2-1 Darlington (Kelly)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtejOr_R4uc 
• 31^st August 2024: Darlington 1 (Maskell) Spennymoor 0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkM0aGFERg&t=234s 
• 9^th March 2024: Spennymoor 2-1 Darlington (Cornish)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOSEjMansPw 
• 28^th October 2023: Darlington 1 (Hazel) Spennymoor 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX2OoVUDueg 
• 28^th January 2023: Darlington 3 (Lambert, Hazel x2) Spennymoor 2
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QC3eoJd6uE 

🔗 Advice on conduct

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

📻 Follow the Game

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