⚽ Matchday 22

🆚 Needham Market v Darlington

📅 December 21st, 3:00 PM
📍 Ecologic Stadium at Bloomfields

🔥 Match Preview

Darlington will look to win the first ever game between these two sides when they travel to Needham Market.

Needham Market are in their first season in the National League North after gaining promotion last season by winning the Southern League Premier Division Central.

The Marketmen find themselves 23rd in the league with only four wins so far this season.

At home, they have struggled to make Bloomfields a fortress, with only one win and two draws in ten games so far this season. Away from home, they’ve managed to shock a few teams by picking up three wins and three draws in 11 games.

Scoring goals has been an issue for Needham Market, with only 14 goals scored, the second lowest in the league behind Marine. Their top scorers have been defenders Kyle Hammond and Kieran Morphew with two goals each.

New signing Reggie Lambe scored on his debut for the Marketmen against South Shields but has struggled to find the back of the net since. With experience in the Championship and the MLS, Lambe could always grab a goal like he did in the National League South playoffs last season for Braintree Town.

Defensively, they have struggled, with 34 goals conceded, which is the sixth most in the league. The Marketmen have struggled to stay consistent with their formation, switching between a four-back and three-back system, with neither formation producing a good run of results.

Needham have only won two of their last 12 league matches, struggling to score more than one goal in most games. However, they are unbeaten in their last three matches with one win and two draws.

Darlington are coming in after a disappointing result against Oxford City, when an early Jack Maskell goal gave them the lead. Near the end of the first half, sloppy defending was punished by Oxford when Corie Andrews equalised.

The positives are that Darlington haven’t lost in their last five league matches and find themselves only five points off the playoffs. A good end to December can do Darlo a world of good.

Recently, captain Tom Platt returned to the squad after suffering a damaged tendon ligament in his ankle. He has been making sporadic bench appearances, but this might be the perfect game to bring him back into the starting line-up.

👤 Player Spotlight

Centre-back and club captain Kieran Morphew has been a key man for the Marketmen, finding the back of the net twice this season, making them a threat from set pieces. The Quakers will have to be wary.

Needham Market have recently signed Jake Watkiss on loan from Championship side Watford . Watkiss plays predominantly as a striker but can also play wide on the left-hand side. He was awarded Man of the Match on his debut in their 0-0 draw against Southport. Earlier in the season, he was on loan at Farnborough, where he made just one appearance for the National League South side.

At the weekend, goalkeeper Marcus Garnham made it into the National League North Team of the Week after keeping a clean sheet against Southport.

📰 Team News

• Jack Maskell will have a fitness test on a thigh injury.
• Scott Barrow is missing with a head injury.
• Andrew Nelson is close to full fitness.

📈 Recent Results

🔴 Darlington

• 14th December v Oxford City (Home) – Drew 1-1 (Maskell)
  🔗 Watch Highlights

• 10th December v Hereford (Home) – Won 2-1 (Lambert, Hatfield)
  🔗 Watch Highlights

• 7th December FA Trophy v York City (Away) – Lost 1-3 (Cornish)

• 30th November v Radcliffe (Away) – Won 4-1 (Hatfield, Kelly, Griffiths, Main)

• 26th November v Scunthorpe (Home) – Drew 0-0

• 16th November FA Trophy v Buxton (Home) – Won 1-0 (Main)

• 12th November v Peterborough Sports (Home) – Drew 2-2 (Barrow, Lees)

🟦 Needham Market

• 14th December v Southport (Away) – Drew 0-0

• 30th November v Scarborough (Home) – Drew 1-1 (Allen)

• 26th November v Leamington (Away) – Won 1-0 (Ingram)

• 23rd November v Marine (Away) – Lost 0-2

• 16th November FA Trophy v Alfreton (Away) – Lost 2-3 (Chambers, Ingram)

• 9th November v Chester (Home) – Lost 0-1

• 5th November v Rushall (Away) – Drew 1-1 (Mills)

📊 League Records

🏁 Darlington

• Position: 13th
• Played: 21
• Wins: 7
• Draws: 9
• Losses: 5
• Goals For: 25
• Goals Against: 21
• Goal Difference: 4
• Points: 30

🕹 Away Form: 17th in the league

• Played: 10
• Won: 2
• Drawn: 4
• Lost: 4
• Goals For: 11
• Goals Against: 13
• Points: 10

🏁 Needham Market

• Position: 23rd
• Played: 21
• Wins: 4
• Draws: 5
• Losses: 12
• Goals For: 14
• Goals Against: 34
• Goal Difference: -20
• Points: 17

🚐 Home Form: 23rd in the league

• Played: 10
• Won: 1
• Drawn: 2
• Lost: 7
• Points: 5

🤝 Recent Games Between the Two Clubs

• None

📻 Follow the Game

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