⚽ Matchday 5

Darlington 🆚 AFC Telford United

📅 Monday, August 25^th, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor: RD Safety Services

Matchball Sponsor: Darl Knight

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

🔥 Match Preview

The Quakers are looking for their first home win when they welcome newly-promoted Telford to Blackwell Meadows on Bank Holiday Monday.

Darlo come into this game after a well-earned point away to King’s Lynn, where a delightful Cedric Main chip over the keeper opened the scoring for the team, but a red card and a second-half equaliser meant the points were to be shared between the two.

Darlington’s opponents, Telford, come into this game after suffering a last-minute loss to Buxton, who scored in the 96th minute to add to their poor start to the season.

The Bucks have yet to win a game in their first four fixtures, with losses to Buxton and fellow newly promoted team Bedford, and draws against King’s Lynn and Curzon Ashton. Kevin Wilkin’s men will be looking to stun Darlo and walk away with the win away from home.

The last time the two clubs met was in the 22/23 season, when a Jacob Hazel hat-trick helped The Quakers come back against ten men at Blackwell Meadows to win 3-1.

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is out with a knee injury

Scott Barrow is available for this game as his suspension doesn’t start till next Saturday.

Kallum Griffiths and Matty Cornish still aren't fully fit.

👤 Player Spotlight

The Top Scorer for the Bucks this season is Matthew Stenson, who has found the back of the net twice. He will be looking to add to his tally after failing to do so against Buxton on Saturday.

Jordan Cranston is an experienced head in this team; the full back has plenty of experience at this level with AFC Fylde and Hereford, alongside his wealth of Football League experience. 

Marcus Dinanga has returned to the club -- he once scored a hat trick for Telford against Quakers.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

• 23^rd August 2025: King’s Lynn 1-1 Darlington (Main)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNzMKM05nYQ&t=43s
• 19^th August 2025: Darlington 1 (Forbes) Fylde 3
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeDlss9YAus
• 16^th August 2025: Alfreton 0 Darlington 3 (Hatfield x2, Hedley)
• https://youtu.be/LSN0wBJbKIY?si=2ynl7w_eTO7vM58y
• 9^th August 2025: Darlington 2(Main, Hatfield) Chorley 3
• https://youtu.be/N345HKeNfl4?si=0yUNjjscF7QH9P_c
• 2^nd August 2025 pre-season: Darlington 2 (Allan, Main) Gateshead 3

⚪️ Telford

• 23^rd August 2025: Telford 0-1 Buxton
• 19^th August 2025: Bedford 3 Telford 1 (Stenson)   
• 16^th August 2025: Telford 1 (Pendley) Curzon 1
• 9^th August 2025: King’s Lynn 1 Telford 1 (Stenson)
• 2^nd August 2025 pre-season: Telford 3 (Walker, Stenson, Hilton) Wolves U21 4

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 13^th
• Played: 4
• Wins: 1
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 2
• Goals For: 7
• Goals Against: 7
• Goal Difference: 0
• Top Scorer: Hatfield (3)
• Points: 4

⚪️Telford

• Position: 22^nd
• Played: 4
• Wins: 0
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 2
• Goals For: 3
• Goals Against: 6
• Goal Difference: -3
• Top Scorer: Stenson (2)
• Points: 2

🤝 Recent Games Between the Two

• 4^th February 2023: Darlington 3 (Hazel x3) Telford 1
• https://youtu.be/oLq6CR2WDoY?si=Kt7M4DIy2hldtivH
• 1^st November 2022: Telford 1-4 Darlington (Lambert x3, Purver)
• https://youtu.be/nb0t56m-hH4?si=_LZ1PL6yUZXysi2K
• 22^nd January 2022: Telford 5-0 Darlington
• https://youtu.be/zw2xbHhexwk?si=HD_yd2rZ-3D3BAxy
• 2^nd October 2021: Darlington 3 (Dos Santos, Charman x2) Telford 0
• https://youtu.be/1sXYlT0bJhw?si=1GZEiB9l90iUWOZi
• 19^th December 2020 FA Trophy: Darlington 2 (Hatfield, Rivers) Telford 2 (Pens 5-3 Darlo win)
• https://youtu.be/Nq_yK0XGJeE?si=FCVmkGWqRbmn5QGZ

 🔗 Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/advice-to-fans-darlington-v-afc-telford-united

📻 Follow the Game

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