The path has mostly gone uphill for Darlington so far, and you could say the same about Chester. These hardened teams eye some important points here.
- Darlington have the most matches over the total-line (14) in Vanarama National League North
- Chester have the most scored goals in the second half (33) in Vanarama National League North
Darlington and Chester should both be in good shape for this meeting, as there's been enough days for both of them to train and rest since their last matches.
Darlington form and stats
The total Vanarama National League North results at home this season for Darlington are 4-3-6 (wins-draws-losses). When Darlington hosts teams that live in the bottom of the table (like Guiseley, AFC Telford United, Farsley Celtic, Blyth Spartans, Darlington, Bradford Park Avenue and Gloucester City), they have won 2 of 4 matches! Regardless of arena the trend is looking very unhealthy for Darlington with their four defeats in a row. Not since the Farsley Celtic game, 35 days ago, have they avoided a loss.
Darlington haven't scored a league goal since they found the net 374 minutes ago. Santos scored that one.
In their previous game, the manager Armstrong led his Darlington to a defeat away at Guiseley. The manager is hoping to put things right immediately here at Blackwell Meadows.
Preceding that match was the home game against Kettering Town that was lost 0-1.The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Darlington have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 13 games) they have won two times, drawn six and lost five.
The Darlington fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 19 in 13 matches. It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only 1 of these goals has been scored in their last three home matches. On the other hand, Darlington have conceded 17 goals.
Chester form and stats
The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Chester so far with only 5 points returning home. The records show 1-2-9 (win-draw-lose). Three might be a magic number, but there's been little wizardry in Chester's last three away games as they have all been lost.
Chester had fun at their own home (Blackwell Meadows) last time out, beating Southport 5-0. Dackers, Weeks, Apter, Burke and Stephenson scored.
Ahead of that game was the 1-1 draw at home against Brackley Town.Chester are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is one win, four draws and eight defeats. From a total of 13 matches.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Chester have scored 14 goals in 12 league games away. The Chester manager Watson has some worries about the defense as 28 goals have been conceded in these travels. When Chester is visiting a side on the bottom half, 2 of 3 matches have ended with three or more goals. These are matches against Chester, Guiseley, AFC Telford United, Farsley Celtic, Blyth Spartans, Bradford Park Avenue and Gloucester City.
Head 2 Head
Darlington and Chester have faced off before this season: Chester - Darlington 2-2. H2H stats regardless of arena (last seven matches): Darlington one win, two draws and Chester four victories. As for goals, three matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), four games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  W. Hatfield 5 goals | J. Cassidy 5 goals |
Darlington missing players
Chester missing players
| Darlington | Chester | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 25 | 13 | 4 | Played | P | 3 | 12 | 25 |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | Won | W | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | Drew | D | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 12 | 6 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 9 | 11 |
| 38 | 19 | 11 | Scored | S | 5 | 14 | 43 |
| 39 | 17 | 5 | Conceded | C | 4 | 28 | 45 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | 96% |
| 80% | 69% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 67% | 80% |
| 64% | 54% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 67% | 68% |
| 40% | 31% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 67% | 67% | 60% |
| 16% | 15% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 33% | 32% |
| 60% | 62% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 58% | 64% |
| 16% | 23% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 8% | 12% |
| 24% | 15% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 33% | 42% | 28% |
| 5.2 | 4.6 | 7.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.7 | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| 4.8 | 4.1 | 2.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 9.6 | 9.5 | 13.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 14 | 12 | 10.3 |
| 3.8 | 3.4 | 5.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| 40% | 43% | 50% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 29% | 25% | 37% |
| 9.8 | 9.1 | 7.8 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 10.7 | 12.8 | 10.7 |
| 3.9 | 3.8 | 2.8 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 5.3 | 6.2 | 4.6 |
- Chester have the most scored goals in the second half (33) in Vanarama National League North
- Darlington have the most matches over the total-line (14) in Vanarama National League North
- Darlington haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Gateshead | 25 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 53 | 30 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 54 |
| 2 | Brackley Town | 25 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 16 | 54 |
| 3 | Kidderminster Harriers | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 26 | 47 |
| 4 | Fylde | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 24 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 20 | 47 |
| 5 | Chorley | 24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 44 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 45 |
| 6 | Southport | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 42 |
| 7 | Kettering Town | 25 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 36 | 29 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 36 |
| 8 | Boston United | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 38 | 36 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 36 |
| 9 | Curzon Ashton | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 33 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 35 |
| 10 | Hereford | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 35 |
| 11 | York City | 23 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 33 |
| 12 | Alfreton Town | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -3 | 31 |
| 13 | Spennymoor Town | 23 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 34 | 38 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 22 | -4 | 29 |
| 14 | Leamington | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 34 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 29 |
| 15 | Chester | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 43 | 45 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 28 | -2 | 28 |
| 16 | Darlington | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 38 | 39 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 22 | -1 | 27 |
| 17 | Bradford Park Avenue | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 32 | 44 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 23 | -12 | 27 |
| 18 | Blyth Spartans | 25 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 46 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 32 | -24 | 24 |
| 19 | Guiseley | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 18 | -13 | 23 |
| 20 | Gloucester City | 25 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 39 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 28 | -17 | 20 |
| 21 | AFC Telford United | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 42 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 28 | -14 | 19 |
| 22 | Farsley Celtic | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 55 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 32 | -34 | 18 |
