Darlington and Salford City go head-to-head in an eagerly-awaited encounter today, the promotion chasers both aiming to clinch the single automatic promotion place. A Quakers win would see them go level on points with the second-placed opposition with five fixtures in hand, while a Salford victory would represent a psychological boost for the hosts. Deputy Sports Editor Craig Stoddart looks at five reasons in favour of each team winning.

Darlington and Salford City go head-to-head in an eagerly-awaited encounter today, the promotion chasers both aiming to clinch the single automatic promotion place. A Quakers win would see them go level on points with the second-placed opposition with five fixtures in hand, while a Salford victory would represent a psychological boost for the hosts. Deputy Sports Editor Craig Stoddart looks at five reasons in favour of each team winning.

FIVE REASONS DARLINGTON WILL WIN
The Cartman effect

Darlington raised eyebrows when they managed to prise 36-goal Nathan Cartman away from Harrogate RA earlier this month, beating Salford City to his signature. Four of the striker’s 29 league goals this campaign have come against Salford, including a hat-trick in a 4-1 away win for Railway in November. He followed that in by scoring a penalty when the teams met again last month.

Darlington’s formidable defence
The statistics tell the story: Only 13 league goals conceded in 23 matches, giving the team one of the best records in the country. Goalkeeper Peter Jameson has enjoyed a fine first campaign between the sticks, contributing 13 clean sheets, while veteran centre-back Alan White has enjoyed a stellar season.

Sloppy Salford
In contrast to Quakers, Salford’s defence has leaked goals lately. They have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine games, conceding 15 goals in that time. Darlington have had no problem scoring goals this campaign, finding the net 52 times in 23 games and scoring in all but one game (against Salford).

Big backing
Estimates vary on the total travelling from the North-East and elsewhere, but there will be a large crowd behind Darlington and their number of fans will greatly outweigh those supporting Salford. While not a new experience - players in each side will have played on big occasions in the past – being backed by the vast majority of the crowd can surely be great motivating factor for Quakers this afternoon.

Revenge mission
Played three, lost three, scored none. Those are the bleak statistics Darlington recorded against Ramsbottom United last season, and the core of that team and management has since transferred to Salford (six players, two managers and two coaches). Martin Gray may have said otherwise publicly, but there must be a burning desire to settle the score.

FIVE REASONS SALFORD CITY WILL WIN
Johnson and Morley’s influence

Salford’s joint-managers, Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, have the edge over Darlington. Three times last season they masterminded victories over Quakers, including one in the play-off semi-final, never conceding a goal in the process. Their team may have finished below Darlington in the table, but they knew how to get a result against Martin Gray’s team.

Salford must win
There was little between the teams when they met at Heritage Park in September, a Danny Webber goal proving to be the difference. It is likely to be similarly tight today and, while Darlington know a draw would be more beneficial to them than Salford, that could play into the hosts’ hands. They know they must win and that could give them the edge.

Could Quakers freeze?
Gray certainly did not allow his players to be distracted by the significance of the occasion in their last fixture comparable to this, at Spennymoor Town two years ago, but that’s no guarantee that Darlington will perform today. Albeit after Leon Scott sustained an early injury, they were disappointing despite home advantage when it mattered most last May in the play-offs.

Ramsbottom repeat
Johnson and Morley’s arrival has been followed by an influx of quality signings, including six from Ramsbottom United, all of whom played in the play-off. Among them is flying left-winger Phil Dean, who scored twice against Quakers and he will fancy completing a treble today.

Darlington are due a defeat
They’ve gone 16 games undefeated, but they have wobbled occasionally – and the run will end sometime. Two home draws with Clitheroe and Radcliffe Borough of late were disappointing, while Darlington laboured to a win over Brighouse Town at the beginning of this month.