Team Dudley 1 Darlaston Town 3

SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2016
TEAM DUDLEY 1 DARLASTON TOWN (1874) 3

Player manager Mark Swann made four changes to the visitors line up as he looked to extend his team's unbeaten league run to 8 games. Swann and Sam Giles were both suspended, whilst Luke Charlton was unavailable with teenager Sam Baxter reverting to the bench.

The home side managed by former Wolves, Coventry and Bradford City striker Lee Mills were well organised but were on the back foot in the opening stages and it took just 10 minutes for the visitors to open the scoring. A Sam Melia cross come shot was turned home by Hayden Hughes from 6 yards giving keeper Locke no chance. Josh Carvel, Hughes and Melia were giving the visitors defence a torrid time but the general standard of play by both sides was poor.

Patterson and Boswell were impressive for the visitors but neither side was comfortable on the ball and the play generally broke down before any clear chances were created.

The second half was better but still both teams gave the ball away far too often to create any dominance or clear cut chances. Against the run of play the students of Dudley equalised in the 54th minute when full back Clarke floated a long hopeful ball from fully 40 yards, the bounce deceived keeper Aaron Morris before nestling in the back of the net.

Just 3 minutes later Melia thought he had put the visitors back in front when he was sent clear down the right flank, as keeper Locke came rushing from his goal, Melia lobbed him and with his effort goal bound only a last ditch goal line clearance by Milner saved his blushes.

Darlaston were now on top and went in front for the second time on the hour when Dudley failed to clear a Callum Wood corner and skipper Ryan McAllsiter drilled the ball home from 10 yards. Patterson continued to impress for the home side and set up Spittle and Nettleford to shoot from distance without troubling keeper Aaron Morris.

Substitute Kieron Miller and Josh Carvel both had difficult chances to extend the lead , keeper Locke making good saves to deny both. The visitors finally put the game beyond doubt 10 minutes from time when Hayden Hughes was fouled by Clarke in the penalty area. Craig Ball confidently stroked the ball into the bottom corner, sending keeper Locke the wrong way.

After the game Swann expressed his disappointment with the performance but delight at another 3 points on their travels. "We were a little disjointed today. We didn't get our passing game going and it was all a little stop start. As you would expect under a former professional footballer in Lee Mills, Team Dudley were well organised and difficult to break down but we made life difficult for ourselves by giving the ball away when not under pressure. We attempted too many difficult passes when easier passes were on. That said it is another three points and we moved into 3rd spot by making it 22 league points out of the last 24. Any manager would be delighted with that return"