Bath time for Quakers and Hatch is ready to return

Leading scorer Liam Hatch is likely to be available when Darlington return to The Northern Echo Arena tomorrow. He missed Tuesday's defeat at Newport County with a calf strain that he has been struggling with for several weeks. But manager Mark Cooper hopes Hatch is in the reckoning to face Bath City, the team against which the 28-year-old scored only his second goal of the season. That was last September when the sides drew 2-2, despite Darlington being 2-0 ahead after 90 minutes. Hatch has since bagged another 12 goals, though he has 13 bookings which means he may not play in all of Quakers' remaining seven league matches. Cooper is fearful that Hatch incurs a three-match ban, a punishment that would be triggered if he reaches 15 yellow cards. Last weekend, when Darlington lost at Crawley, it was understood that Hatch would escape a ban as long as he avoids receiving two more cautions before April 10. Cooper, however, revealed yesterday: "The limit for ten bookings is on Sunday, but you can get a ban for reaching 15 bookings for the remainder of the season. "He's on 13 now so if there's a chance that he'll get banned for the Trophy final we won't play him, simple as that." "Hatchy should be back in on Saturday though and Jamie Chandler might be available." Chandler is recovering from a broken hand that has kept him out of four of Quakers' last five matches. He did, though, play in the team's last home game, the defeat to Altrincham a fortnight ago, since when Darlington have played three away fixtures, losing two of them. First up was a 1-0 reverse at Crawley last Saturday before Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Newport when Cooper's men missed a host of chances which, believes left-back Aaron Brown, explains why Quakers will miss out on the play-offs this term. "Our problem this season is that we haven't been clinical enough as a team in the final third," he said. "I don't just mean strikers, I mean chipping in goals from midfielders and even from defenders. We're not as clinical as we could be. We've got a very good defence record, but I don't think we've scored anywhere near enough. "That probably explains we are where we are in the table, but if we can address that then hopefully we can push up the league next season." Meanwhile, Darlington have so far sold 4,500 tickets for their FA Trophy final at Wembley next month. Quakers take on Mansfield Town on Saturday May 7 (3pm kick-off), with tickets £30 adults and £15 concessions (over-60s/under-16s). Darlington's 15,000 allocation is in the East End (lower tier) of Wembley, in blocks 102-122. Tickets are available online at eticketing.co.uk/darlingtonfc, or by telephone on 0844 248 5095. The telephone line is a standard rate (not premium), and a booking fee of £1.40 per ticket will be charged to cover the cost of Ticketmaster services provided to Darlington. A maximum of 20 tickets will be available per applicant. Official club coaches are available to book. They are due to depart the Arena at 7am on and cost £30 each, available in person at the Arena, or on 01325 387000. The Darlington Supporters Club bus to Wembley costs £28 and departs from Park Place. The booking number is 01325-243911. Also, a limited number of corporate tickets are available for the final, in Wembley's Bobby Moore Club. The VIP package includes a three-course hot buffet and seats on the half-way line, costing £150 per person. They are available from the club on 01325-387000 or by email to reception@darlington-fc.net.

Source: Northern_Echo