We are looking to return to winning ways at Blackwell Meadows on Saturday against high flying Alfreton.

After a disappointing defeat at home to Altrincham last Saturday, we regained some pride with a 2-2 draw at Ashton United on Monday.

Alfreton have been one of the surprise packages so far this season, currently sitting in fourth place. They won four of their seven games so far including two away from home.

After struggling for the past few seasons Billy Heath took over in the summer having previously guided North Ferriby and Halifax to promotion. He brought with him several of the players that had won the National North playoffs with Halifax two years ago. Their main threat is target man Tom Denton who is the division’s second top scorer so far with six goals just one behind Altrincham’s Jordan Hulme.

We beat Alfreton on their only previous trip to Blackwell Meadows 4-1 at the start of last season. However, they scored a late penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with us in our last meeting in January.

The game will be covered on several of the club’s official media outlets – Twitter, Facebook, website and Darlo Fans’ Radio beginning at 2.30pm.

Darlington:

Team news: Joe Wheatley serves the last of his three game suspension, while defender Terry Galbraith and midfielder Alex Henshall will both have fitness tests.

League position: 17th

Leading scorer:  Reece Styche 5

Home form: played 3, won 0, drawn 1, lost 2 goals 2, against 6

Last six matches

August 27^th Ashton United (away) drew 2-2 Thompson, Saunders

Maddison, Trotman, Burn, Ainge, O’Hanlon;  Elliott, Syers,Nicholson, Styche, Saunders, Thompson

Subs: Glover, Bancroft, Banks, Hughes, Morrison,

August 25^th Altrincham (home) lost 0-3

August 18^th Kidderminster (away) lost 2-5 Ainge, Nicholson

August 15^th Blyth Spartans (home) drew 1-1 Styche

August 11^th Brackley (away) won 4-2 Styche 3, Ainge

August 7^th Spennymoor (away) drew 2-2 Styche, Thompson

Alfreton:

League position: 4th

Leading scorer: Tom Denton 7

Away form: played 3, won 2, lost 1 goals for 4, goals against 4

Last six matches:

August 27^th: Southport (home) won 3-1 Platt, Denton, Johnson

Team:  Ramsbottom; Clifton, Shiels, Gowling, Wilde, Platt, Johnson, Chettle, Hotte, Peniket, Denton.

Subs [not used]: Middleton, Nicholson, Bacon, Riley, Clackstone.

August 25^th Stockport (away) won 1-0 Denton

August 18^th Blyth (home) won 3-1 Denton 2, Platt

August 14^th Curzon Ashton (home) lost 0-1

August 11^th York City (away) won 2-1 Denton, Bateson

August 7^th Brackley (away) lost 1-3 Peniket

Last season: Darlington 4 Alfreton 1, Alfreton 1 Darlington 1