We host Chester in our rearranged game on Wednesday night looking to pull further away from the bottom three.  We currently sit nine points ahead of FC United and ten ahead of Ashton United as we enter the final weeks of the season.

Stephen Thompson and Jordan Nicholson scored our goals at Nuneaton last Saturday for an important 2-1 win with the former netting his 92nd goal for the club.

Chester are seven points outside the top seven, but are still hopeful of making the end of season playoffs. Managed by former Salford duo Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson, Chester have been inconsistent throughout the season having been tipped as one of the pre-season favourites.

Last time out they were held to a 1-1 draw by Leamington having lost their last away fixture 4-0 at Altrincham. They did not have a game at the weekend and still have eight games left to play.

The two sides have met many teams in the Football League, with Chester suffering similar struggles over the last decade. Three back-to-back promotions saw them reach the National Premier where they sat until this season.

Quakers will probably give a home debut to new midfielder Omar Holness, who has been in Major League Soccer in the USA for Real Salt Lake City.

Wednesday’s game will be covered live on Darlo Fans Radio, and the club’s official Twitter and website

Stats pack

Darlington

League position:  17th

Home form:    Played 17, won 5, drawn 5, lost 7, goals for 21, against 19, points 20 (out of total 40)

Team News:

Joe Wheatley will be missing because of a hernia injury, Will Smith will have a fitness test on a thigh injury.

New players Omar Holness, Ben Jackson and Kit Elliott are all included in the squad.

Stephen Thompson now has 92 goals for the club after scoring last week.

Leading scorer:   Jordan Nicholson 10, Harvey Saunders 8, Stephen Thompson 7

Position in form table of last six matches:  17th won 1, drawn 2, lost 3 goals for 6, against 11

Last six matches

March 23^rd Nuneaton (away) won 2-1 Thompson, Nicholson

Darlington: Turner, Trotman, Galbraith, T Elliott (capt), Ainge, Holness, Henshall (sub Jackson 70), Palmer, Kneeshaw (sub Saunders 70), Nicholson, Thompson

Subs:, Maddison,  Burn, K Elliott

March 9^th Hereford (away) lost 2-4 Elliott, Thompson

March 5^th Telford (away) lost 1-3 Saunders

March 2^nd Chorley (home) drew 1-1 Kneeshaw

February 20^th Brackley (home) lost 0-2

February 16^th Southport (home) drew 0-0

Chester

League position :  10^th (five points below play offs)

Away form:  played 17, won 3, drawn 5, lost 9, goals for 14, goals against 33, points 14 (out of 49)

Position in form table of last six league matches: 13^th. Won 2, drawn 1, lost 3, goals scored 8, against 12,

Last six matches:

9/3/19 – Leamington (H) Drew 1-1 McKenna

Chester FC: Shenton, Jackson, Waters, McAllister, Livesey, Howson, McKenna, Roberts, Asante (sub Waring 66), Dudley, Mahon. Subs: Grand, Noble, Mooney, Marsh-Hughes.

2/3/19 – Altrincham (A) Lost 4-0

26/02/19-Blyth (H) Won 2-0 Mahon, Waring

23/02/19 – Bradford PA (A) Lost 2-0

16/02/19 – Boston United (H) Won 4-1 Asante, Dudley, Mahon, Waring

09/02/19 – Kidderminster Harriers (A) Lost 4-1 Asante

Last time we met:

Chester 3 (Asante 3) Darlington 1 (Wheatley)

Darlington:  Maddison, Trotman, Galbraith (sub O’Hanlon 57), Burn, Elliott;  Hughes, Wheatley; Henshall (sub Lingthep 90), Nicholson, Thompson; Saunders

Subs: Hall, Glover, Stansfield

Chester City: Shenton, Thomson, Grand, Livesey, Howson;  Mooney, Noble, Stopforth, Mahon (Marsh-Hughes 89); Asante (sub Smalley 80), Dudley (sub Dawson 90+3). Subs not used: Subs:   Brown, Murray