I think it's safe to say that Darlington have now retired from the race for the play-offs following their 3-2 defeat at Hayes on Saturday. They still have the FA Trophy final to look forwards too and their manager, Mark Cooper, laid into them following the Hayes defeat and told them in no uncertain terms that half that team wouldn't be playing at Wembley and the other half won't be at Darlington next season.
They have a few injuries anyway so they can't be to blame for that poor showing. Chris Senior is out for a while with a calf injury, Gareth Waite and Michael Brough both have long term knee injuries while Liam Hatch has a variety depending on who tells you. He has either an ear infection or a head injury or one to his shin. I think he's so badly injured he'll play tomorrow night.
They could have Jamie Chandler back after recovering from a broken hand while Fulham bound Dan Burn could return from a knee injury. The 19yr old will leave Darlington in the summer to join the Premiership side after beating Everton to the youngsters signature. The deal is thought to be around the £350,000 mark plus add-ons. Not a bad deal for a total unknown.
Gary Smith will also be missing but that's his own fault after getting sent off in injury time at Histon last Tuesday. He'll miss three games.
Again we'll have Tom Sharpe out while he recovers from his dislocated knee but Lee Morris should make the bench after recovering from injury earlier than planned. Matt Lowe, who?, is still out with an injury picked up in training last week.
It goes without saying that, again, this is yet another must win game and even more so after that disappointing draw at Eastbourne. Fleetwood winning yet again didn't help matters although Tamworth did their old boys, Briscoe, Wright and Shaw, a favour by beating York City up in the Jewel of the North.
The fate is in our own hands and a win tomorrow would go a long way to sealing that fate.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Lewis, Stevens, Vaughan, Williams, Lowe, Albrighton, Byrne, Shaw, Briscoe, McPhee, Briggs, Hankin, Morris, N Wright, Blair, Matt, Gittings, Canham.
Darlington from:
Russell, Thompson, St Louis-Hamilton, Bertram, Arnison, Burn, Chandler, Miller, T Wright, Moore, Main, Barnes, McReady, M Smith, Taylor, Austin, Terry, Barton, Brown, Gray, Quinn, Verma, Modest, Bridge-Wilkinson, Campbell.
Links to Darlington websites here
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