Darlington Mowden Park forwards coach Danny Brown has emphasised the importance of today's game against Hull Ionians in their quest to clinch second spot.

Mowden Park currently sit in third place, just six points behind the Ionians, and Brown sees it as a perfect opportunity to gain some ground on their in-form opponents.

"If we are going to have any chance of catching them, we need to win. If we don't then it's out of our hands and we are relying on them to slip up", he said.

"We are expecting them to come out all guns blazing. Both teams play the same way, like to chuck it about, so it should be an exciting game to watch."

However, Brown was keen to ensure that his players aren't too disheartened should they not get the result they desire.

"It's not the be all and end all if we don't win. We are a newly promoted side playing against a team who have been in this league for years. We have done excellently to get into this position."

Mowden Park come into the game off the back of a 62-7 victory against Bromsgrove last week, their first game at The Northern Echo Arena, a match which Brown described as "one of the best".

He said: "Despite the result it wasn't an easy game last week. Bromsgrove are the only team to have beaten top of the league Stourbridge this year, but our players were fantastic.

"We have such a young side, and it could have gone one of two ways. As you can tell from the result, they revelled in the experience and weren't overawed by the occasion at all.

"We love playing here, training here and just being a part of it. The fans reaction has been brilliant too."

The game at The Northern Echo Arena kicks off at 2:15.