County take on fellow ex-league club Darlington on Saturday looking for a ninth successive league win at Edgeley Park in order to keep the pressure on leaders Chorley at the top of the table.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over Ashton United was County’s first league game since defeat at Brackley over 2 weeks prior, due to FA Trophy commitments, and saw us regain ground on the leaders, moving to within four points of the Magpies with a game in hand.
The Hatters form at Edgeley Park in recent months has been imperious, having not dropped points at home since the 1-1 draw with Chester at the beginning of December. We haven’t been beaten in a league game in front of our own fans since the 2-0 reversal to Boston in September.
Our visitors meanwhile come in to the game on the back of a poor run of just one win in their last seven games, losing five in that run, and Wednesday night’s home lost to Chester has left the Quaker’s down in 17th, nine points above the relegation zone.
It’s easy to see where Darlington’s issues have been this season – with 58 goals conceded thus far giving them the worst defence of sides outside the relegation zone. Going forwards however, they have managed a respectable 50 goals to date, with Jordan Nicholson their main dangerman on 10 league goals.
New Hatter Jason Gilchrist (welcome!), signed on loan from Southport, is available for selection on Saturday, though will face stiff competition for a starting role from Frank Mulhern and the in-form Nyal Bell, who bagged his second Cheadle-End goal in three days in the win over Ashton. Nyal also scored the winner at Darlington, back in September.
That win was County’s first over the Quakers since 2012, and just our second in the seven times we’ve faced them since dropping in to non-league, both of those victories coming away from home. County come in to the game however, knowing a win could well take us to within a point of Chorley, who face a difficult assignment as they travel to Chester on the same day.
Whatever happens, Saturday promises to be yet another thrilling day in this remarkable season, as County look to clear another hurdle in their charge towards the National League. See you on Saturday. Come on County!