“ANYTHING could happen,” predicted Alun Armstrong as Darlington prepare for another clash with Solihull Moors giants.

The teams meet again on Wednesday evening in an FA Trophy round one replay at Blackwell Meadows having drawn on Saturday, when a clash of styles was evident but they ended the afternoon level at 2-2.

Solihull, winners of nine of their 11 home league games and fifth in the National League, are known for their direct and physical approach, whereas Quakers lack height in comparison to their opponents and prefer a passing game.

“It’ll be the same as Saturday because they won’t change,” said Armstrong. They’ve got their way of playing and they are good at it.

“They all know their jobs, they make the pitch really tight and get on the second balls because they are big and strong and physical.

“Our pitch is wide, so we might me able to do something different. If we can move them about the pitch with our football then anything could happen, we’ve got to play it at our tempo.”

Winners of the replay will be at home in the second round on January 11 to Harrogate Town, who beat Hartlepool United 3-2 on Saturday.

While Wednesday's match is a little inconvenient for Quakers as it comes three days before travelling to York City, Solihull also have a big match to look forward to this weekend.

They are at home to top-of-the-table Barrow in a match broadcast live by BT, and Armstrong added: “This is the last thing they would’ve wanted, travelling up here on a Wednesday night.

“Some clubs in the National League write the competition off, especially the ones going for promotion, because it doesn’t make you much money, but there’s still a place at Wembley up for grabs.”

Darlington expect to be able to call on Jack Lambert, who scored Saturday’s late equaliser to set up the replay.

The attacking midfielder’s loan from Scunthorpe United has expired and Armstrong wants him for another month as Quakers go into a period during which they will play twice a week.

The manager explained: “We’re extending his loan, we’re just waiting for the paperwork to go through.

“He’s not costing us a lot of money and he’s proven his value. He is different to what we have, a totally different player to what we have in the squad.

“Having these options is great, the quality on the bench is exactly the same when you take someone off.”

New signing Sean Reid, however, is unavailable against Solihull as he played in two rounds of the Trophy for Morpeth Town, including a 6-1 win over Cleethorpes Town when he scored twice.

Able to play in a variety of positions but fundamentally known as an attacking midfielder, Reid joined Darlington on Monday having scored five goals in 18 appearances for Morpeth for whom he signed he signed in the summer from Blyth Spartans.

Reid netted 66 times for Blyth in 186 appearances across four seasons, and moved to Morpeth just days before Armstrong became Quakers boss, otherwise he could have followed the manager to Blackwell Meadows sooner.

Armstrong is delighted with his new signing, his seventh from last season's Spartans squad, and he said: “He’s exactly what we need – he’s 6ft 3in and can play anywhere through the spine of the team.

“I’ve had him centre-forward, as a No. 10, as a sitting midfielder and as a centre-half – he played centre-half against York City last year – so he’s done the lot for me.

“He could play up front for us, or in midfield so I could change it to a 4-2-3-1 and have him play close to Adam Campbell.

“He gives us options, we can change formations during the game because he can play so many roles and is such a useful tool to have.

“His biggest asset is that he scores goals, his record is phenomenal.

“He also gives us height at set-plays. We have lacked height but we haven’t just needed a big lad who can head it, you need a player who can bring something else to the team. He’s going to be good value for money.”

Armstrong added: “I’d like to thank Ken Beattie, the Morpeth chairman, what a bloke. He looks after his players exceptionally well.

“Reidy wanted to come, so Ken said he would do what he could to help sort it out, but some people aren’t like that, they’ll hold you to certain fees, whereas he just wanted to do what was best for the player so credit to him for that.”