Daraston 0 Wednesfield 2

Darlaston Town (1874) 0 Wednesfield 2

"In front of a record attendance of 234 Darlaston closed 2016 on a disappointing note losing 2-0 to an impressive Wednesfield side who cemented their place in the top three.

The early exchanges were even but as the game progressed the visitors started to assert their authority. Rico Taylor on loan from Evo Stik League side Sutton Coldfield Town and skipper Josh Jones were particularly impressive with some excellent link up play starting to give the home defenders plenty of problems. On 15 minutes Taylor created havoc down the left flank setting up Yates to drive wide from 18 yards.

The pace of Taylor and Sandland was evident on 20 minutes when they combined to set up Mason but Swann intervened with an excellent tackle to avert the danger. The home side responded with Carvel and Giles both creating difficult chances which came to nothing. The youth and vibrance of Wednesfield was impressive and with the quality of Mason, Jones and Taylor they were controlling the game restricting Darlaston to rare breaks. Their dominance finally bore fruit on 35 minutes when Yates tapped home from 4 yards after some excellent approach play.

Albeit against the run of play Darlaston had a superb chance to equalise with their best chance of the game three minutes later. Swann flicked on a free kick to Giles who was all alone twelve yards out with only keeper Griffiths to beat. Unfortunately for the large home crowd Giles hit his shot straight at the keeper who saved comfortably. Wednesfield continued to prompt and probe with Taylor and Jones at the heart of most of their impressive play.

Darlaston's best spell of the game came in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when both Giles and Luke Charlton failed to capitalise by taking difficult chances. Wednesfield weathered the mini storm and doubled their lead in the 56th minute when former Darlaston striker Ty Atkinson turned home a cross from 10 yards.

With Harry Atkins and Zak Cox dominant at the heart of the visitors defence the home side were finding it difficult to get any kind of foothold back into the game and the quality of Wednesfield was evident as they created furrher chances for Yates and Sandland who both shot high and wide from 18 yards, whilst Taylor fizzed his 12 yard shot wide.

Darlaston's task was made even more difficult in the 64th minute when they were reduced to 10 men, Giles rash challenge on Quarry seeing referee Barrow reach for his red card. Wednesfield were now in complete control and missed decent chances to add to their lead. They had the chance to put the game beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when Darlaston substitute Sam Baxter brought down Sandland in the penalty area. Skipper Jones stepped up to take the spot kick but much to the delight of the home crowd 48 year old stand in keeper Scott Bamford made a superb save diving to his right to turn the ball around the post.

Following the game player manager Mark Swann reflected "The pace, quality and energy of Wednesfield was very impressive today and they are the best side we have played this season. We are low on confidence at the moment and you simply cannot compete against such a good side unless you are on your "A" game and we were not today. Taylor and Jones were excellent for them and they have a very good young side who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

We were always chasing today and Wednesfield thoroughly deserved their win. Despite being on the back foot Sam Giles had a great chance to get back to 1-1 just before half time and although it would've been against the run of play if we had scored then it could have given us a way back into the game.

We have had a very difficult few games In December and we have been found wanting. I will be looking to add quality to the squad over the next few weeks and with players returning from injury and suspension I expect us to get back to winning ways very soon"