North-East Sport
Ferguson handed first Quakers start
7:41pm Tuesday 21st February 2012
David Ferguson makes his full debut in this evening’s game at Mansfield Town as one of two changes to the side that are on the fringes of the relegation zone.
Aaron Brown sustained a calf strain in Saturday’s defeat at Alfreton, which leaves Quakers fifth-bottom, so Ferguson slots in at left-back.
The other change sees right-back Liam Bagnall come into the team for Adam Rundle who is on the bench. The move should see captain Paul Arnison played in midfield.
While Darlington were losing 3-1 at Alfreton on Saturday, Mansfield were defeated 1-0 at Newport County, but they remain in the top ten an remain intent on reaching the play-offs.
A Stags win this evening coupled with a Kettering victory over Forest Green would see Quakers drop into the relegation zone for the first time.
Both squads are much changed since they met at Wembley last May. In Quakers XI are only two players – Arnison and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson –also played in the FA Trophy final.
Referee: Rob Merchant (Stoke)
Mansfield Town Marrott; O’Neill, Sutton, Dempster, Edwards; Dyer, Roberts, Murray, Smith; Hutchinson, Green. Subs: Redmond (gk), Riley, Briscoe, Rhead, Meikle
Darlington: Pickford; Bagnall, Taylor, Harrison, Ferguson; Bowman, Arnison, Keltie, Bridge-Wilkinson, McReady; Ramshaw. Subs: Nixon (gk), Lambert, Barton, Rundle, Hopson