"Bucks aiming to get back on track against Darlington"

Match Date : January 22nd, 2022 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

AFC Telford face another North East opponent this weekend, when Darlington will visit the New Bucks Head.

After a couple of underwhelming league campaigns, the Quakers currently sit just two points outside the playoff places in 11th – although they have played more games than most of the teams around them.

Boss Alun Armstrong was appointed by the Quakers in May 2020, shortly after he’d guided Blyth Spartans to the playoffs. And this summer, Armstrong oversaw a significant revamp of his squad, with the number of offseason arrivals in double figures.

The new faces include goalkeeper Tommy Taylor, defender George Smith, and forwards Jake Cassidy, Andrew Nelson and Junior Mondal.

One player who the Quakers won’t be able to call on, though, is 13-goal dangerman Luke Charman, who joined Rochdale earlier this week. Charman scored twice for Darlo when they ran out 3-0 winners in this season’s reverse fixture, a game that triggered the departure of Gavin Cowan as Telford manager.

Despite that defeat earlier this season, the Bucks have a decent record against Darlington, having won six and drawn two of the last 12 meetings between the sides. Bucks boss Paul Carden will hope that’s a good omen, as the Bucks look for a first league win since October.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Sunday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online here. For more information, read our match guide.

FORM GUIDE

THE BUCKS

Form: L-L-D-D-L

Last match: Gateshead 4-1 AFC Telford United

Pos.: 22nd

Top scorer: Jason Oswell (6)

DARLINGTON

Form: D-L-D-W-L

Last match: Darlington 0-1 Kidderminster Harriers

Pos.: 11th

Top scorer:  Jack Lambert and Will Hatfield (5)