DARLINGTON are looking for a much better outcome than their last visit when they head to Chorley in National League North this evening.
When Quakers last went to Victory Park a year ago, they were trounced 8-0, which was not only the most embarrassing defeat of Josh Gowling’s ill-fated reign, but also one of the most embarrassing in the club’s history.
Darlington will be looking to make amends tonight, although they are still looking for their first away league win of the season following their weekend draw at Rushall.
That result left Steve Watson's side sitting in 14th place in the table, and they will be taking on a Chorley team that are among the early pace-setters in third position despite their weekend loss at Alfreton.
Darlington assistant manager Terry Mitchell, who was appointed with Steve Watson after Gowling was dismissed, said: “We’re a totally different side now, and we’re going there confident and trying to win. We’re not going there trying to nick a point.
“Chorley is a tough place to go, but they’ve got a new surface laid down which hopefully will help.
“If we create as many chances as we did at Rushall on Saturday, then we’ll come away with three points.”
Mitchell also paid tribute to skipper and defender Scott Barrow, who was carried off at King’s Lynn but surprisingly returned at Rushall just a fortnight later.
Barrow went for X-rays in Gateshead on the day after the King’s Lynn game, and they ruled out any leg break, enabling him to make an unexpectedly rapid return.
“It shows the sort of character that he is,” said Mitchell. “He’s managed the injury well over the last couple of weeks. He’s trained, and built himself up for Saturday’s game.
“We got other players back for Saturday - Joe Leesley was on the bench, and we got Cedric Main onto the pitch. We actually left four lads behind on Saturday, we had 20 players to choose from and only two injured.”
Darlington's management duo will have the same squad to choose from this evening, with defender Ben Hedley and midfielder Tom Platt not due back until next month.
Spennymoor Town are also in National League North action this evening, and will be hoping to avenge this month's narrow FA Cup qualifying-round defeat when they return to Alfreton.
Moors will be looking to build on their strong showing last Friday, which saw them brush aside Farsley Celtic 3-0.
"Confidence is high now," said Rob Ramshaw, who was one of Moors' scorers at Farsley. "We're on a good run in the league, and hopefully we'll keep it going."
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