The visitor’s defensive difficulties continue with manager Dean Gill having to change his defensive line up, Ollie Sayer becoming the fourth goalkeeper of the season that he has used with Josh Jones, Reece Mason and Ben Priest still on the injury list as is striker Kieron Miller.

After a relatively even opening 15 minutes Highgate started to assert. Former Halesowen Town and Hednesford Town defender George Cleet combining with former Bromsgrove Sporting defender Shay Palmer forming an excellent central defensive partnership to thwart the Darlaston front two of Aaron Bishop and Rivel Mardenborough.

Last season’s Midland League Premier Division's top scorer Ryan Harkin looked dangerous, Highgate looking to play him in at every opportunity. Corey Currithers impressed in midfield, with Ben Vallance and Connor Mooney putting in some excellent crosses driven into the box causing difficulties for the visitors, fortunately for the visitors they were either cleared or evaded the oncoming Highgate strikers.

Harkin picked up an injury on 31 minutes forcing him to leave the field, to be replaced by former Reading, Bournemouth and Walsall defender Aaron Brown. Whilst Darlaston may have been relieved to see the influential Harkin leave the field, nothing could've been further from the truth. The 6' 5'' Brown moved up front and created havoc for the visitors for the rest of the afternoon both in the air and on the ground.

Bishop and Mardenborough both had half chances for the visitors, but neither side could convert their opportunities, visiting keeper Sayer making an excellent one-handed save, the teams going into the interval all square.

The teams were only all square for a minute in the second half. A long deep ball deep into the penalty by full back James Wilcock, saw Brown outjump Alex Foreshaw to send his 10-yard looping header beyond the outstretched hand of Sayer.

Just six minutes later Highgate doubled their lead, and it was that man Brown again with a towering header from Shay Palmer's deep right wing cross.

The game was all but over as a contest on 62 minutes, Foreshaw's attempted back pass was intercepted by Jake Collins who beat Sayer to the ball and comfortably tapped home into an empty net.

By now Darlaston were a little shell shocked, and it took them a while to regroup. Eventually they gained a little momentum, James Rowland, Ryan Winwood and Kalo Harrison looking to set the forwards free, but Cleet and Palmer were superb as keeper Reece Francis only had one save of note to make.

Currithers for Highgate was excellent in midfield bringing overlapping full backs, Wilcocks and Vallance into the game at every opportunity. The fullbacks sending in deep crosses looking for the head of Brown but Darlaston's central defensive partnership of Foreshaw and Podmore cleared the danger, or Brown was unable to take further advantage with a clean header.

Mardenborough and Bishop continued to work hard up front but got little change out of Cleet and Palmer and it was simply not to be Darlaston's day.

After the game boss Dean Gill reflected - "Highgate are as good a side as we have played this season. Terry (Anderson - manager) is a top manager and knows the game inside out. He has assembled a very good side, well organised, well managed and they play to their strengths. They have quality in every position.

We were not at our best today, but that says more about the quality and effectiveness of Highgate as it does of our players. We worked our socks off and showed our quality in short bursts, but they were simply too good for us on the day. No qualms".