THE beginning of April heralds the commencement of the business end of the season, and the first of Darlington’s final six matches sees them involved in a crunch clash at the top of the National League North.

They go to leaders AFC Fylde, an ambitious full-time club who are not shy about their intention to reach the Football League by 2022 – the year is printed on their kit.

It was 1-1 when they travelled to Heritage Park in November, a closely-fought contest, and while Fylde have remained at the summit ever since, the Lancashire club are in danger of losing top spot, having won just three of their last nine games.

A month ago they led by 11 points but the gap is now down to six, and second-placed Kidderminster Harriers, who have a game in hand, will be hoping Darlington can get a win today.

Martin Gray’s team have put together a good run of results to move up to fifth, are unbeaten in their last seven away games and would bolster their play-off chances with a win at Mill Farm.

“They’ve been at the top all season because they’re a top team,” said Gray.

“We’re a newly-promoted team and they’ve been in this division a few seasons now and are looking to get out of it.

“When we played them at home it was a tightly-fought game. Neither team dominated and over the 90 minutes we possibly should have won it.

“I know they got beat 4-1 by Tommy Wright’s Nuneaton team last weekend, so I’ll be speaking to him about that, but Harry Dunn was down there so we have plenty of information on them.

“We’re looking forward to going there. It’ll be two good teams fighting it out.

“Fylde have given themselves a great chance of winning the championship and we’ve given ourselves a great chance of being in the play-offs.

“We’ll have the same mindset as them and that will be to win the game.”

Quakers won 1-0 against Bradford Park Avenue on Wednesday, when they had to be patient against robust opposition.

Though far from a pretty performance, Quakers took the points thanks to Harvey Saunders’ close-range finish with ten minutes to go.

Gray said: “We needed a goal early on and Dave Syers almost got it when he hit the post, it was a good ball into the box by Josh Gillies.

“A goal then and it would maybe have changed the complexion of the game.

“We didn’t look as composed as we normally are. But in the circumstances – the pitch was bobbly and lively, it’s a different type of pressure compared to what it was two months ago – we got a result.”

The cross aside, Gillies was a peripheral figure on Wednesday at Blackwell Meadows, but on what is a much better playing surface at Fylde’s Mill Farm Gray will be tempted to stick with the playmaker, who scored against today’s opposition five months ago.

Defender Kevin Burgess had a fitness test prior to Wednesday’s game but was not risked. He will travel today, as will forward Arran Wearmouth, who made his first Darlington appearance in last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Gainsborough Trinity.

Gray opted not to include him in midweek, the player having only just returned from almost a year out with a cruciate injury.

While Quakers conceded three at relegation-threatened Gainsborough, Fylde shipped four at mid-table Nuneaton Town, a result that led to manager Dave Challinor calling his players in for an extra day’s training.

“We trained on Sunday after the game and went through the game,” said the manager, who was a defender with Tranmere Rovers in his playing days, and became known for his long throw-ins.

“Some of the lads then played in a development game on Monday night, but beyond that we have just trained normally.

“We have always responded after we have lost this season and we will look to do that again on Saturday.

“We are still in a great position and looking to get maximum points against Darlington.

“We have watched them recently and we know from the game at their place earlier in the season that it will be tough. They like to get the ball forward quickly and they will be a threat with Mark Beck up top but they also have very good delivery from set pieces.

“They are on a decent run and they still have everything to play for as they look to consolidate their place in the play-offs.

“At the same time I am after a reaction from our lads. Darlington will be coming to us knowing that they have a challenge ahead too and hopefully that is the case.”