Darlaston travelled to league leaders Droitwich Spa looking for a positive result to get help get their season back on track, especially given their recent results and performances.

Manager Parkes had a fully fit squad to select from, the only absentee being midfielder Alex Solomon who was unavailable. The management duo of Parkes and Moore selected a strong starting XI and bench, Daniel Bolzon given a starting spot after recovering from injury replacing the missing Solomon.

The game could not have started in worse fashion for Darlaston conceding a goal to Droitwich’s top scorer James Lemon, who got behind the visitor’s defence. After such a bad start to the game, how would Darlaston react.

Extremely well was the answer, the scores were level after 6 minutes, a Ryan Jones well placed pass inside Curtis Townley Droitwich’s right back, Bolzon raced through to score at the far post.

The goal galvanised Darlaston, whose midfield took the game by the scruff of the neck, defender Scott Glasby heading over from two corners, meanwhile Droitwich’s Jack Davies and Dan Cottrill had efforts on the visitor’s goal.

In the 23rd minute Darlaston were awarded a penalty, Luke Charlton was brought crashing to the ground by Curtis Townley who entered the Referees notebook. Up stepped Ant Follows, his well struck right footed shot was well saved by Matt Oliver keeping the scores level at 1-1.

In the 30th minute Darlaston very nearly took the lead with an outrageous attempt on goal. Leon Taylor had been fouled by centre half Seeley 45 yards out from goal. Quick thinking Isaac Cooper noticed Droitwich’s keeper Oliver off his line, and his chip was just off target just clearing the bar.

The home side had a great chance to level the scores in the 34th minute, a misplaced pass out of defence was met by Ben Tilbury, whose pass found James Lemon who looked set to score, but Sam Causton’s last ditch tackle just as Lemon was about to shoot snubbed out the danger.

As halt-time approached Jamie’s Holder sprayed another 60-yard ball to the feet of Isaac Cooper, he cut inside and unleashed a thunderbolt that drifted just past the far post.

Both teams entered the half-time interval to applause from both sets of supporters, a great first half of committed football, played at a high tempo, Darlaston had the lions share of the possession, and instead of failing in the final third, they looked dangerous and purposeful every time they attacked.

The second half was a more even affair great kill from rent signing from Wolves Casuals Ben Tilbury nearly gave the home side the lead once again, receiving the ball on the left, a normal and a Cruyff turn gave him space to shoot on goal, but Darlaston’s keeper Whittaker was equal to his effort.

The home side retook the lead in the 51st minute, great work wide on Droitwich’s right-hand side by the impressive Jack Davies his cross aimed at the far post was met by the lethal Lemon who bundled the ball past two diving Darlaston defenders and keeper Whittaker into the net to double not only his teams total but his own for the afternoon.

The goal was not a shock, as Droitwich had been in control from the restart. They could have scored a third three minutes later, a stray pass from Darlaston’s Cooper was met by Cory Rudd in the middle of the park, his astute pass found Davies, his effort shaved the post, a let off for Darlaston.

The scores were level once again in the 57th minute, the home fans probably thought it was against the run of play. A long ball from Darlaston’s deep midfield went in behind the home defence, a foot race between Leon Taylor and Andy Crowther over 30 yards was ended by the home sides keeper who cleared the ball straight into Leon Taylor, the block ricocheted to the dangerous Daniel Bolzon, who had little difficulty in dispatching the ball with ease past the static defenders into the net. Bolzon owed so much to Taylor’s never say attitude and willingness to chase lost causes.

The home side should have scored in the 63rd minute as a guilt edged chance was missed. A Dan Cottrill snapshot from outside the area was saved a full stretch by Liam Whittaker, only to push the ball to Tilbury, who miscued his left footed strike wide of the upright much to Darlaston’s relief.

As the game became tense and players tired, both management teams made substitutions to introduce fresh legs and minds.

Once again Darlaston seemed to be under pressure, but they gave no quarter defending high up the pitch, not dropping deep as they have done in previous games. For all the home sides possession they didn’t threaten the visitor’s goal often, efforts from Crisp, Cottrill were dealt with easily.

A rare Darlaston attack saw Taylor once again chase a lost cause which resulted in a Darlaston corner. The sweet left foot of Isaac Cooper found the unmarked Luke Charlton at the near post, whose deft header found the net giving the visitors the lead for the first and final time in the game in the 84th minute.

Darlaston saw the game out despite the referee playing six minutes of extra time and Rudd hitting the top bar in the 86th minute.

The final whistle was greeted with joy by the Darlaston team, management and supporters, and outstanding game of football played in the right spirt and way, very much the same as the first meeting between the two sides on Bank Holiday weekend a fantastic advert for West Midlands (Regional) League Football, both teams gave no quarter, tackles were hard and fair, not a bad word was said by anyone.

I am sure everyone connected with Darlaston would wish Droitwich well for the remainder of the season and thank them for their friendly and enjoyable hospitality this afternoon