Darlington look to close the gap on Blyth Spartans when they travel to fifth place Stourbridge on Saturday.

The Quakers were held at home by Ashton United at Heritage Park on Tuesday night with both teams scoring late goals. However, they did move a point closer to Blyth Spartans, who surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to Frickley Athletic. Quakers are ten points behind Blyth with four games in hand. Despite the draw, Quakers have still won six out of their last seven league games, and are unbeaten in the calendar year.

Premier Division

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS     GD

Blyth                                       33        23        3          7          64        32        72        +32

Workington                             32        19        7          6          54        31        64        +23

Darlington                               29        19        5          5          62        29        62        +33

Salford City                            32        18        6          7          62        35        60        +27

Stourbridge                             31        18        5          8          64        46        59        +15

Barwell                                    33        18        3          12        64        50        57        +14

Nantwich                                32        14        10        8          71        44        52        +27

Ashton United                         29        15        7          7          61        38        52        +23

The team on Tuesday v Ashton United:

Darlington: Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Mitchell (sub Portas 67), Scott, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 57), Hardy (sub Cartman 65), Thompson

Subs: Provett, Nowakowski

Stourbridge were impressive when they came to Heritage Park back in October, with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw. Stephen Thompson gave the Quakers the lead with former Carlisle striker Karl Hawley earning a point for Stourbridge. That was the game when Quakers played the game without a recognised centre half.

Last time we met 17th October 2015

Darlington 1 Stourbridge 1

Darlington were delighted with a point against third placed Stourbridge considering the circumstances.

Quakers were forced to reshuffle before the game. Skipper Kev Burgess was injured in the warm up ten minutes before kick off, so recent signing Anthony Callaghan, normally a left back, switched to centre half.

Undeterred, Quakers took the lead on 4 minutes when Stephen Thompson cut in from the left, exchanged passes with Lee Gaskell, and rolled the ball past the advancing keeper.

Quakers were then pushed back, and Leon Scott pulled off a magnificent goalsaving tackle when Peter Jameson parried a low shot by Chris Lait into the path of Karl Hawley who seemed a certain scorer until Scott appeared from nowhere to win the ball just a couple of yards out.

Jameson made a fingertip save from Kristian Green, and then saved at the feet of Justin Richards.

But Stourbridge levelled on 29 minutes when Justin Richards split the Darlington defence for former Carlisle striker Karl Hawley to run through and beat the outstretched hands of Jameson.

The keeper made another good save from Richards, while Quakers had a penalty shout for handball turned down when Lee Gaskell tried to cross into the box.

With the wind behind them, Quakers had more of the game in the second half, but Jameson again had to be alert to save another close range effort from Lait.

Quakers were pinned back again, and Jameson again came to side side’s resue, saving from Richards and then Hawley.

But Quakers nearly won it right at the end, with a right foot shot by Mitchell that went just over the top, and then a header by Graeme Armstrong that went a foot wide.

Darlington: Jameson, Gibbons, Callaghan, Scott, Portas, Galbraith, A Mitchell, Turnbull, Gaskell, Cartman (sub Armstrong 63), Thompson.

Subs not used: Provett, D Mitchell, Youhill.

[caption id="attachment_18016" align="alignnone" width="300"] Stephen Thompson about to score against Stourbridge[/caption]

Stourbridge have had an impressive season so far, which included strong runs in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy. However, they have also had success in the league and a recent good run has seen the side move up into the final play-off place. They are just three points behind the Quakers, but have played two games more.

Stourbridge have won their last five league games including in a 3-2 win at Sutton Coldfield Town on Tuesday night. At home this season they have won nine from their fifteen league games.

Their recent form:

Stourbridge last six matches:

Feb 23rd Sutton Coldfield (away) won 3-2 Hawley 2, Lait

Gould, Green, Hull, Geddes, Smikle, Pierpoint, Dodd, Broadhurst, Hawley, Richards, Lait.

Subs: Billingham Canavan Singh Whittall Vincent

Feb 20th Mickleover (home) won 2-1 Green, Hawley

Feb 16th Nantwich (away) FA Trophy lost 0-1.

Feb 13th Colwyn Bay (home) won 2-0. Scarr, Vincent

Feb 1st Marine (home) won 2-0. Hawley, Lait

Jan 30th Hyde United (home) won 5-1 Hawley, Lait, Dodd, Richards, Vincent

Kick-off on Saturday at Stourbridge is 3pm. Updates will be made from the club’s Facebook, Twitter, phone app, Darlo Fans Radio and official website, with highlights on the club's You Tube channel.