Old Wulfs 3 Darlaston 1

Darlaston boss Mark Swann made several changes to the side that lost to FC Stafford. Keeper Aaron Morris was unavailable due to injury whilst skipper Ryan McAllister, Lewis Taylor Boyce and Steve Dougliss and Swann dropped himself to the bench.The changes meant that the visitors were a little disjointed and simply could not get their passing game together on a poor surface against an impressive Old Wulfs side.

The early exchanges were even with Noah Diallo for the home side and Josh Carvel for the visitors both shooting wide from distance in the opening 10 minutes. The pace and dribbling skills of Jumane Meggoe on the right and Noah Diallo on the left were proving a handful for the Darlaston defence whilst former Darlaston midfielder Richard Palmer was starting to pull the strings in midfield. Both Diallo and Josh Wright brought excellent saves from stand in keeper Scott Bamford whilst Carvel brought a fine save from home keeper Tom Dudley and Sam Melia was denied by a last ditch Adam Broom tackle.

The pitch was proving tacky and bumpy and both sides were finding it difficult to play controlled passing football. the breakthrough came on 34 minutes. Palmer picked up the ball in his own half and has he moved forward he sent in a defence splitting 35 yard pass which put Meggoe clear. The striker made no mistake as he confidently slotted the ball beyond advancing keeper Bamford to give the home side a deserved lead. Already low on confidence the goal knocked the stuffing out of Darlaston and they fell further behind 5 minutes later when Jack Marsh turned superbly in the box to shake off his marker and score comfortably from 10 yards.

Darlaston thought they had pulled a gal back on the stroke of half time. Firstly a Lucas Hough free kick from 25 yards was superbly finger tipped over the bar by keeper Dudley. From the resultant corner Craig Ball's powerful 8 yard header went inches over the bar.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first half with Muggoe and Diallo finding plenty of space on both wings but the new central defensive partnership of full debutant Luke Harpin and Craig Ball standing firm. Darlaston started to create openings and eventually pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute. Michael Nelson was the provider beating 3 defenders before sending in a cross come shot which found top scorer Sam Melia unmarked at the far post to slot home his 11th goal of the season.

The goal gave the visitors confidence and they enjoyed a brief spell where Nelson and Carvel both created difficult half chances and Melia was denied a shot on goal by Mark Tipton's intervention. The home side responded superbly and Diallo, Wright and Marsh all had opportunities to put the game beyond doubt but could not convert.

On 72 minutes an excellent run by Nelson saw the winger brought down some 25 yards from goal. Ball's curling free kick striking the outside of the post with keeper Dudley stranded. The home side finally secured the points in the 79th minute with their third goal. A fluent attack by the home side saw a Darlaston defender deflect the ball into the path of Josh Wright who made no mistake from 10 yards.

Sam Melia thought he had reduced the arrears in the 80th minute but was denied by the offside flag and the home side held on comfortably for a deserved win.

Darlaston are without a game this weekend."

Our next home game is on Saturday 25th February when we entertain league leaders HEREFORD LADS CLUB 2pm