⚽ Matchday 14

Merthyr Town 🆚 Darlington

📅 Saturday, November 1^st, 3 pm

🏟️ Penydarren Park

🎟  https://www.merthyrtownfc.co.uk/events/merthyr-town-fc-v-darlington

🔥 Match Preview

The Quakers look to start the month of November strong as they make the long journey down to Wales, where they take on the newly promoted Merthyr Town.

Darlo come into this game after winning their first home league game this season by 2-0  against Southport, thanks to goals from Jack Maskell and the debuting Max Howells in the first half. A clean sheet from another debutant, Darryl Ombang, who made some fantastic saves, was the first clean sheet at Blackwell Meadows this season.

November will be a busy month with six league games plus an FA Trophy tie away to FC United of Manchester, so the additions of the experienced Paddy McLaughlin, as well as promising youngsters Max Howells and Darryl Ombang, will hopefully be a big difference for the squad.

Away from home, the Quakers have been a solid team and are 8^th in the away form table with 10 of their 16 points this season coming on the road.

Darlington’s opponents, Merthyr, come into this game after a midweek 2-0 win away to Chorley, where the league’s top scorer, Ricardo Rees, added another two to his account.

The Martyrs have started the season well for a newly promoted team and currently find themselves 11^th in the league with six wins and a draw in 13 league games played, which has gained them 19 points with 23 goals scored and 25 goals conceded.

At home, Merthyr have found it hard to make Penydarren Park a fortress this season, with two wins and four losses in their six home league games, which has gained them six points with six goals scored and 12 conceded, putting them 21st in the league for home form.

This will be Quakers' second ever visit to Penydarren Park, they played there in the 1989-90 Conference season, and drew 1-1 with Paul Emson scoring.

Darlington defender Scott Barrow will be playing against one of his previous clubs.

📰 Team News

Alfie Myers-Smith is missing with a knee injury

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

Elliot Forbes is serving a one match ban for his two yellow cards last Saturday.

Kallum Griffiths and Josh Scott both have groin injuries.

Pete Jameson is out with a hamstring injury, so Daryll Ombang is included in the squad again.

Cedric Main is very doubtful with a knee injury.

👤 Player Spotlight

Ricardo Rees has proved to be a real dangerman for The Martyrs, having found the back of the net 11 times this season in 13 games. He has continued his impressive goal-scoring form from last season, when Merthyr won promotion from the Southern League to National League North.

Another key man for the hosts is midfielder Lewys Twamley, who has two goals and six assists this season and has been the main creator for the Welsh outfit. A former Welsh Youth international, he will be one to keep an eye on.

Merthyr include midfielder Jack Evans, who was on trial with Darlington pre-season, but has since moved to Wales for work reasons.

📈 Recent results

🏁 Darlington

• 25^th October 2025: Darlington 2 (Maskell, Howells) Southport 0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge2zuOe0gd0
• 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

⚪️ Merthyr

• 25^th October 2025: Chorley 0-2 Merthyr (Rees x2)
• 21^st October 2025: Merthyr 0-1 Kidderminster
• 18^th October 2025: Spennymoor 6-4 Merthyr (Twamley, Sambu, Rees x2)
• 4^th October 2025: Chester 2-2 Merthyr (Handley, Jarvis)
• 27^th September 2025 FA Cup 3QR: Merthyr 0-1 Hampton & Richmond

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 13^th
• Played: 13
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 4
• Losses: 5
• Goals For: 20
• Goals Against: 18
• Goal Difference: 2
• Top Scorer: Maskell (6)
• Points: 16

AWAY FORM:

• Position: 8^th
• Played: 7
• Wins: 3
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 3
• Goals For: 11
• Goals Against: 8
• Points: 10

⚪️ Merthyr

• Position: 11^th
• Played: 13
• Wins: 6
• Draw: 1
• Losses: 6
• Goals For: 23
• Goals Against: 25
• Goal Difference: -2
• Top Scorer: Rees (11)
• Points: 19

HOME FORM:

• Position: 21^st
• Played: 6
• Wins: 2
• Draws: 0
• Losses: 4
• Goals For: 6
• Goals Against: 12
• Points: 6

Previous meetings

1989-90 Merthyr Tydfil 1 Darlington 1 (Emson), Darlington 0 Merthyr Tydfil 0

🔗 Advice on conduct

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/merthyr-town-v-darlington-advice-to-supporters

📻 Follow the Game

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