In their third meeting of the season these two teams treated the 220 crowd to another pulsating Black Country derby. A first half downpour was not conducive to good quality football on a wet surface that held up well. That said, both sides impressed with the way they handled the conditions, treating the crowd to some good quality football, in a game that had pretty much everything. Five goals, two penalties, a sending off, a sin bin and several bookings. Despite the statistics the game was played in a good spirit.

Darlaston manager Dean Gill made several changes to the side that lost at Hednesford Town in midweek, Dom Perkins, Liam Wilkinson, Tom Hurdman and Ryan Winwood all returning to the starting line up whilst Tom Allsopp made his debut in goal.

In the opening minutes, after Darlaston failed to clear their lines properly from a corner, Harry Crook who went on to have an impressive game, dragged a shot wide for Dudley.

Two minutes later the home side went ahead. Jack Downing's deep right wing cross, was headed away but only into the path of Rivel Mardenborough, whose 15 yard shot was blocked by a defender, James Rowland on hand to drive home the equaliser beyond keeper George Barrett.

Aaron Bishop had a snapshot from 8 yards saved, following good approach work by Wilkinson and Rowland. A Dan Danks drive across the face of goal caused problems, Connor Archer sliding in, failing to connect by inches.

The equaliser came on 26 minutes, Harry Crook's free kick from 22 yards finding Connor Archer who stole in unmarked to head home from 8 yards.

Within the minute Darlaston went ahead for the second time. Mardenborough and Jack Dowing exchanged passes, Downing playing the ball into Bishop who beat his defender to drive from 18 yards.

Darlaston had the edge and should have increased their lead after Bishop was sent clear by Rowland, but with only keeper Barrett to beat, the usually clinical Bishop, hit his shot high into the side netting. Barret made a smart save to deny Mardenborough and made an excellent smothering save at the feet of Downing.

If the home side had the better of the first half, then it was the visitors who had the better of the second half after making a bright start. Harry Crook and Dan Danks saw more of the ball and their pace and trickery becoming a thorn in the side of the home defenders.
Crook shot over the bar and then found a little space for himself driving the ball across the face of goal, beyond everyone.

Dudley were having the better of the possession, winning more first and second ball but without creating clear cut chances. For the home side, Mardenborough and Bishop were finding it tough to breach a resolute Dudley defence, the only chance falling to Rowland who shot tamely wide from 16 yards. From a Rowland corner Podmore headed inches wide.

Dudley introduced former Sporting Khalsa striker Josh McKenzie for the injured Connor Archer, McKenzie's imposing presence immediately having an effect on the game. As the visitors continued to assert, it was Crook again who got them back into the game after being felled by Hurdman in the penalty area. Danks comfortably converting the spot kick.

Neither side created any further clear chances and as the game entered into its final minutes it appeared that for the third time this season, the game would finish 2-2 after 90 minutes. That was until the ball struck the outstretched hand of defender Lewis Mitchell in the penalty area. Mitchell, seeing red for his second caution. Rowland converted the spot kick for his second goal of the game.