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Honours even in todays friendly against Premier Division opposition

Honours even in todays friendly against Premier Division opposition

Simon Cox23 Mar 2019 - 20:20
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Darlaston drew 2-2 with mid table Smethwick Rangers after a two week break

Darlaston this afternoon returned to action in a friendly against West Midlands Premier League side Smethwick Rangers after having the last two Saturdays off.

The game allowed the Management duo of Parkes and Moore to give players a start who have recently been on the bench, they included Ryan Kingdom, David Richards, Noah Diallo, and a full Darlaston debut was given to Makhan Rai.

Both sides were looking for a competitive game, as they both look to finish the season on a high. The game started well for both sides, very competitive in midfield, but Smethwick wasted the better chances early on.

The pitch was not easy, very bumpy and bobbly cause every player into errors, bad control or misplaced passes, even miskicks at time.

Smethwick’s Ricky Uppal was forced off after 11 minutes following a blow to the head in the opening minutes, to be replaced by Ryan Williams, who missed several chances as the half wore on.

Darlaston took the lead in th 16th minute, Luke Charlton smashing the ball home from 12 yards following an Isaac Cooper corner, his well struck shot found its way through a group of players high into the net.

The goal gave Darlaston confidence, and they started to play well out of defence, using the full width of the pitch, Cooper whipping in some great crosses, that both Bolzon and Alex Solomon failed to convert.

At the half-time interval Darlaston made a host of changes, Ryan Jones, Makhan Rai, Alex Solomon, Liam Whittaker and Dave Richards were withdrawn to be replaced by Scott Glasby, Jamie Holder, Jack O’Day and Leon Taylor.

Darlaston scored a second after 54 minutes, Bolzon escaped his marker to cross the ball to the far post to Isaac Cooper, his first effort was parried by keeper, only for Cooper to rise above the static defence to score Darlaston’s second of the afternoon.

As the half wore on, Smethwick came more into the game, putting the Division One side under more pressure. Following a foul just outside the Darlaston area, Kieran Smith stepped up and took a curling free kick, his effort was helped by the gap in Darlaston’s wall, the ball finding the back of Darlaston’s net after 76 minutes to give the home side some hope.

Four minutes later they were level Smith adding his second, a smart finish from 15 yards, giving O’Day no chance to level the scores at 2-2.

Smethwick had the bal in the net for a third time in the 90th minute, but the Referee disallowed the goal, for a foul on Darlaston’s young keeper O’Day, which left him with an extremely sore neck, so much so he had to substituted with only a few minutes remaining.

The match ended in a draw, a fair result over the 90 minutes, Darlaston’s manager Andy Parkes was well pleased with his teams efforts against higher opposition as he looks forward to what could be a season defining run of three games, the first next week at The Paycare Ground against Team Dudley, who today beat Willenhall 5-2.

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