Keltie starts for Darlington (From The Northern Echo)

Keltie starts for Darlington

7:09pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Sport By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

After two postponements Darlington return to action this evening at Southport with two debutants in their starting XI.

Clark Keltie and Liam Bagnall come into the side for the first match since drawing 2-2 with York on January 28.

Midfielder Keltie has returned to the club four years after leaving for Rochdale, while Bagnall has joined on loan from Sunderland.

Bagnall is a right-back and comes into the team for Paul Arnison who has a calf injury while Keltie takes the place of Rob Ramshaw who is on the bench.

Hopes are high that a rescue deal securing the club’s future will be signed tomorrow. While discussions have taken place, focus has shifted somewhat from on-field matters where Darlington’s form has slipped.

They have not won since beating Cambridge United 2-0 on December 17, but four of Quakers’ XI from that day are no longer with the club: Sam Russell, Ian Miller, Jamie Chandler and Liam Hatch. Furthermore, Graeme Lee and Arnison are injured.

Quakers have since gone six games without a win, scoring five and conceding 11 and keeping only one clean sheet in that time. Crag Liddle’s team have dropped to 18th.

They are a point above the relegation places while Southport, who defeated Darlington 3-0 at The Northern Echo Arena earlier this season, are sixth.

Referee: Declan Ford

Darlington (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Bagnall, Taylor, Harrison, Brown; McReady, Keltie, Bridge-Wilkinson, Rundle; Hopson; Bowman. Subs: Nixon (gk), Ferguson, Lambert, Barton, Gray