Quakers are next in battle against drop

HEREFORD FC are back on home territory for the first time since February 2 knowing three points against Darlington would be a welcome boost in their battle to avoid the drop from the National League North.

The Bulls have played four straight away games since their last home match, a 2-1 defeat by Curzon Ashton, and have picked up six points from a possible 12 on the road with an unbeaten run of a win and three draws.

But now, a victory over the Quakers, like themselves a club reformed from the ashes of a previous Football League outfit, would be welcome in keeping that momentum going.

Darlington, who are in 16th place in the table, two spots above their hosts, have won only once in their last six matches, but that was an away win at Blyth, where Hereford also won at the end of January.

Hereford will be looking to boost their disappointing goal tally and will hope that Tom Owen-Evans, who scored both Bulls goal in a 2-2 draw between the sides earlier in the season, has his shooting boots on.

With loanee James Waite serving the final match of his three-game ban for a sending off at Leamington, head coach Marc Richards may give a debut to his latest arrival Cameron Ebbutt.

In the National League South, Bath City’s form has taken a bit of a downward turn in recent weeks, so they will be keen to get their play-off bid back on track away to Hemel Hempstead today.

Romans manager Jerry Gill said: “It’s always a good pitch at Hemel, so there’s no reason why we can’t go there and get three points, but make sure we don’t get beat first and foremost.”

At the other end of the table, Weston are eight points from safety with ten games left, having beaten leaders Torquay last week, but then lost 5-0 at home to Wealdstone in midweek. Weston host Hungerford today.

The team they are trying to catch are 19th-placed Gloucester City, whose decent unbeaten run came to an end in midweek.

Gloucester visit high-flying Dartford today.

Chippenham, meanwhile, face a difficult away trip in Surrey, where they visit Woking, who are battling Torquay at the top.