Darlington appoint Craig Elliott as manager as cup week bites
Darlington provided the week's most significant piece of business, confirming on 6 November the appointment of Craig Elliott as first-team manager on a contract until the end of the 2028-29 season. Elliott, 48, resigned as manager of Bradford Park Avenue to take the job and will be at Blackwell Meadows for Tuesday's visit of Oxford City. "They're a big club with great support, and they want to keep moving forward," he said. "Just like me, the club is very ambitious." Chair David Johnston said he looked forward "to working with him to turn our season around". Terry Mitchell stays on as assistant. Earlier in the week Darlington confirmed the release of midfielder Ethan Fitzhugh, who wanted to return closer to home in Northamptonshire.
With four National League North clubs in the FA Cup first round, the league programme was thinned out and none of the quartet survived. Oxford City went closest, losing 4-2 to Leicester City on Friday 6 November in front of a record MGroup Stadium crowd of 3,462, Scott Pollock and Josh Ashby scoring. On Saturday 7 November Harborough Town lost at Leyton Orient, a day marked more by concern for Paul Malone, who scored before being stretchered off; the club later confirmed he had travelled home with the squad after scans. Macclesfield were beaten 3-0 at Mansfield Town, watched by 950 travelling supporters, while Marine went out at Bradford City.
In the league, Chester won 1-0 at Brackley Town, with Phil Parkinson's side having added 17-year-old Crewe Alexandra striker Noah Bell on a 28-day youth loan. Hereford came from behind at Chorley, substitute Cawley Cox scoring twice after Elliot Taylor's header had put the hosts in front before 1,320. Merthyr Town beat Hebburn Town 4-1 through Keiran Evans, Kane Simpson, Elis Watts and Morgan Wigley; Morecambe were beaten 6-2 at Hednesford Town, Adam Lakeland admitting it was "difficult for me to stand here and defend the goals we've conceded". King's Lynn Town saw off Spennymoor Town 2-0, South Shields beat Southport, AFC Telford United edged Spalding United 2-1 on Kevin Wilkin's 200th game in charge, and Scarborough Athletic recovered from two down to draw 2-2 with Buxton.
