Darlington face a potentially season-defining game tomorrow as they take on Rushall Olympic at Blackwell Meadows.
The Quakers are looking to compete in the National League North playoffs for the first time since the club’s reformation and really need a win if they want to have any chance on securing a top seven spot.
So far, this season has been ravaged by injuries, so they have struggled to get an extended run of form together.
Injuries to influential players like Captain Tom Platt, Cedric Main and Ben Hedley meant early in the season they didn’t have a strong core in the starting 11. This led to points being dropped in games they expected to win.
The club have been in the National League North since 2016 and the highest they have finished was fifth in 2016/17.
Darlington are coming off a 1-1 draw away to Alfreton Town needing a late goal from Matty Cornish to salvage a point.
Speaking to Darlington FC’s YouTube channel, manager Steve Watson said: “We’ve given ourselves half a chance, but we’ve being unlucky with injuries not just recently, but all season.
“While we’re still within a chance, we’ll still believe, but whatever happens we know we’re going in the right direction.”
Their opponents sit 23rd in the league and are fighting to avoid the drop and maintain their National League North status.
They have just come off a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southport so the Quakers will look to take advantage.
Darlington commentator, Stuart Armstrong, said: “A win is critical tomorrow if Darlington are going to stay in the mix for a play-off spot.
“There isn’t any wiggle room left in the remaining games, and it will probably require another six wins to have a shout from the eight remaining games. Fail to win this one and its hard to see how that would happen.”
Darlo have had a tricky month in March, losing games that they were expected to win, which hasn’t been helped with injuries which has left them with a depleted squad in the past few games.
Matty Cornish, on Darlington’s YouTube channel, said: “Every game is a massive one, we’ve got eight games left and we’re obviously going to try and win all eight.
“We believe we can win all eight, but we also need that support.”
