Darlington v Telford Match Preview

By Max O'Hara & Harvey Richards

Oct 10, 2025

The Quakers look to make the First Round Proper of the FA Cup

⚽ FA CUP FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND

DARLINGTON 🆚 TELFORD

📅 Saturday, October 11th, 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor: CKJ Interiors

Matchball Sponsor:CADEC

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

🔥 MATCH PREVIEW

Darlo return to FA Cup action this weekend when they look to make it to the First Round proper as they welcome Telford back to Blackwell Meadows for the second time this season.

The Quakers will look to rebound as well after a loss in the league last week to Buxton, where a first-half goal from Tai Sodje was all the Bucks needed to keep the points at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.

In the last round of the FA Cup, Darlo came up against a strong AFC Fylde team who had already beaten The Quakers in the league but after a 2-2 draw at Mill Farm, Darlington were able to bring the game to a replay and win that 3-1 at Blackwell Meadows thanks to goals from Cedric Main, Tom Platt and Will McGowan and cap a great team performance.

Darlington’s opponents, Telford, come into this game after meeting AFC Fylde last Saturday in the league, when, despite an early goal from Remi Walker, a second-half comeback from The Coasters meant Telford would go on to lose the game 3-1.

In the last round, the Bucks met Southern League Premier Division South team Evesham United, when the difference in quality was shown as Telford scored four, thanks to goals from Jamie Meddows, Remi Walker and a brace from Matthew Stenson to progress.

The last time the two clubs met was earlier in the season, when, despite a strong start in the first half by the Quakers with two goals thanks to an Own Goal and Josh Scott, the Bucks were able to produce a comeback in the second half when a last-minute equaliser by Dylan Allen-Hadley meant the game ended 2-2.

The clubs have met before in the FA Cup in 1985. Quakers beat Middlesbrough in a memorable third round replay at Feethams, but then lost 3-0 at Telford in a fourth round replay after a 1-1 draw at Feethams.

This is the first time that Quakers have played in the last qualifying round for five seasons. In the covid season of 2020-21, they beat Cambridge City 2-0 to earn an away tie at Swindon Town in the first round proper.

📰 TEAM NEWS

Alfie Myers-Smith is back in training after a knee injury.

Josh Scott will have a fitness test following his recovery from illness.

Kallum Griffiths and Matty Cornish are back in the squad, but short of match fitness.

👤 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Top scorer this season for The Bucks is midfielder Remi Walker, his first goal of the season came against Darlington as he came on as a second half substitute and spearheaded the comeback for Telford in the league fixture. He has scored in their last two fixtures, so The Quakers will be looking to stop him from making it three.

Dylan Allen-Hadley was the man who got the late goal to secure the draw for Telford in August and his four goal involvements have proved him to be an asset to the Shropshire outfit. He assisted in The Bucks' last league victory, which came against Peterborough Sports at the start of September.

📈 RECENT RESULTS

🏁 DARLINGTON

·4th October 2025: Buxton 1-0 Darlington

·https://youtu.be/99UK72d8Zcw?si=AaES5oZb_Mrs3mWW

·30th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR Replay: Darlington 3 (Main, Platt, McGowan) Fylde 1

·https://youtu.be/7kroysgzDY8?si=jJibrbWY-3UI5fX7

·27th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR: Fylde 2-2 Darlington (Lennon, Rutledge)

·https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89aqM8MRn8

·20th September 2025: Darlington 1 (Scott) Chester 1

·https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eub0NDxlW0Q&t=10s

·13th September 2025 FA Cup 2QR: Bootle 1-3 Darlington (McGowan x2, Allan)

·https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVW54KYx6Y