The Quakers were due to host Nantwich Town on Saturday, however, the rain caused the game along with many in the division to be postponed. Despite Darlington being unable to play they did receive good news from elsewhere as league leaders Blyth Spartans were defeated 1-0 at Sutton Coldfield Town and Workington were held to a 1-1 draw by Grantham. Blyth are now 13 points ahead of Darlington, but the Quakers have five games in hand. Despite this, Darlington slipped to fourth in the league table.

Quakers could go second tonight, if they beat Ilkeston, and the clash between Salford and Workington ends in a draw.

Premier Division

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS     GD

Blyth                                       36        25        3          8          69        33        78        +36

Salford City                            35        20        6          8          69        39        66        +30

Workington                             34        19        9          6          56        33        66        +23

Darlington                               31        20        5          6          65        32        65        +33

Stourbridge                             33        20        5          8          69        47        65        +22

Barwell                                    35        20        3          12        67        51        63        +16

Ashton United                         32        17        7          8          67        41        58        +26

Rushall Olympic                     34        15        9          9          61        42        57        +19

Nantwich                                32        14        10        8          71        44        52        +27

Frickley                                   33        14        8          11        51        39        50        +12

Sutton Coldfield                     35        13        9          13        42        49        48        -7

Buxton                                    33        14        4          15        50        51        46        -1

Ilkeston                                   35        12        9          14        45        52        45        -7

Ilkeston currently sit in 13^th place in the table, 18 points off the final playoff place. Away from home this season they have won four from eighteen games. They have lost their last three league games including their latest game on Saturday 2-0 at Halesowen.

Latest form:

March 5^th Halesowen (away) lost 0-2

Ilkeston: Hannis, Shaw, Print, Wheatley (Head 72), Baker(c), Goddard, Burrows (Meakin 65), Gordon, Udoh, Williams, Atkinson (Rose 65).

Subs Not Used: Morris, Walters

February 29^th league Cup Daventry (home) won 3-0. Williams, Udoh, Atkinson

February 27^th Salford (away) lost 0-2

February 22^nd Stamford (home) lost 0-3

February 20^th Salford (home) won 2-1 Baker, Burrows

February 13^th Skelmersdale (away) lost 1-2

February 9^th Blyth (away) lost 0-1

Ilkeston held Darlington to a 1-1 draw when the two sides met back in September. Chris Hunter was sent off, but a Terry Galbraith goal earned the Quakers a point.

Last time we met September 21st 2015

Ilkeston 1 Darlington 1

Darlington went top of the table with a 1-1 draw at Ilkeston, but they had to play for the last half an hour with ten men.

Quakers started the game with Alan White restored to the centre of defence alongside Kevin Burgess, with Chris Hunter moved to right back.

After Nathan Cartman had a goal disallowed, Quakers’ keeper Peter Jameson was the first into action when he pushed a shot by Danny Gordon over the bar.

However, Jameson had no chance when Ilkeston took the lead from the penalty spot on 10 minutes. Leon Scott brought down JJ Blake, and the Ilkeston player picked himself up to score from the spot.

Quakers tried to hit back, but Adam Mitchell fired wide, and Cartman had an overhead kick saved, while Ilkeston keeper Ross Durrant just managed to stop Tom Portas from scoring off a pass by Stephen Thompson.

However, it was the home side who nearly scored again, Jonathan Edwards heading against the bar from a corner just before half time.

But whatever manager Martin Gray said at half time clearly worked, because two minutes after half time, Quakers equalised when Terry Galbraith scored from an Adam Mitchell corner.

However, just a few minutes after the goal, Quakers were caught on the break and last man Chris Hunter brought down Michael Williams, and was red carded.

Quakers were then briefly down to nine men while central defender Alan White went off to receive treatment for a head injury, and when he came back on with his head bandaged, he almost scored from a free kick, but his header went just over the bar.

After that, Quakers defended well to go top of the table for 24 hours at least.

Darlington: Jameson, Hunter, Burgess, White, Galbraith, Mitchell, Portas, Turnbull, Scott, Thompson (sub Bell 65), Cartman (sub Youhill 74).

Subs not used: Armstrong, Watson, Provatt.

Bookings: Mitchell, Thompson, White

Attendance 489

Kick off at Heritage Park is 7:45pm on Tuesday, updates will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter, Phone App, Website and be covered live on Darlo Fans Radio.