Darlington drop Smith and Hatch

Gary Smith and Liam Hatch have been axed by Darlington manager Mark Cooper for this evening's game at Rushden & Diamonds. Out-of-form Hatch has started all but one game this season, missing the trip to Barrow through injury, but he misses out at Nene Park. Also out of the line-up is midfielder Gary Smith who has started all 13 games this season. John McReady also makes way, while coming into the team are Paul Arnison, Jamie Chandler and Michael Smith. Arnison served a one-match suspension in Saturday's defeat to Wrexham having been sent off for two bookable offences against York City last week when Quakers drew 0-0. Making their returns on the bench after spells out injured are Tommy Wright and Gareth Waite. That scoreless draw was Darlington's sixth consecutive draw in as many games this season. This evening's match represents a first return to Nene Park for Darlington midfield Paul Terry who spent last season with Rushden. The game is Quakers' first visit to Nene Park since the opening day of the 2005-06 season when Darlington drew 1-1 thanks to a Clyde Wijnhard penalty. Rushden & Diamonds (4-3-3): Joe Day; Miller, Stuart, Osano, Jamie Day; Porter, Johnson, Huke; Sills, Howe, O'Connor. Subs: Key (gk), Robinson, Charles, Power, Spence Darlington (3-4-3): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Hone, Austin, Brown, Terry, Chandler, Powell, M Smith, Senior. Subs: Lowson (gk), Clarke, P Gray, Waite, Wright Referee: A Madley

Source: Northern_Echo