Darlaston manager Andy Parkes made three changes from the side who lost at Allscott, 16-year-old Ryan Lees-Stevens making his second appearance between the posts, full backs Martin Stanton and Ryan Jones relegated to the bench to be replaced by Sam Giles and Ant Follows. The versatility of the squad becoming evident as Parkes also made positional changes, midfielders Luke Charlton and Lucas Hough both converting to full backs with Giles and Follows taking up their usual midfield positions.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start. Former Darlaston player Anthony Cox scoring for Gornal inside 40 seconds, a speculative shot from Gornal’s left looped over keeper Lee-Stevens into the far corner to give the home side a dream start in such an important fixture.

The goal set the visitors back on their heels and for a while they were at sixes and sevens with Gornal on top creating two further half chances, 11 goal striker Liam Hickman heading just wide and another Cox effort from 25 yards went wide.

As the visitors regained their composure they levelled the scores on 12 minutes. A Lees-Stevens goal kick was flicked on by Leon Taylor into the path of top scorer Scott Broadway who lobbed advancing Gornal keeper Josh Bennett from 25 yards. A minute later Tyrone Clarke O'Connell forced a save from keeper Bennett cutting in from Darlaston’s left.

The impressive Hickman was causing the vising defenders all sorts of problems with his pace and runs behind the back four and in the 19th minute he created an excellent opportunity for himself. his pace took him beyond the back four and after being forced wide by Lees Stevens he took the ball around the keeper and from the acutest of angles his shot rolled along the goal line much to the relief of the visitors.

Darlaston's response was immediate and on 20 minutes a superb interchange of passes between Taylor and Clarke O'Connell created an opening on the edge of the Gornal box for Ant Follows whose left foot curling shot just cleared the bar with keeper Bennett stranded.

Ten minutes later Lees-Stevens made an outstanding save low to his left to keep the scores level keeping out a snapshot from Gornal's Brooks from the edge of the area.

The remainder of the first half saw both sides working hard to gain some superiority and take charge of the game. Neither side could dictate for any period of time. Both sides created opportunities with Russell Brooks and Hickman for the home side having good efforts on goal saved by keeper Lees Stevens and an effort off target from wide man Matt Foster. Darlaston had leading scorer Broadway heading just wide and a curling Tyrone Clarke O’Connell effort saved by keeper Josh Bennett.

Darlaston opened the second half brightly and could have taken the lead on 51 minutes which would have been a "goal of the season" contender. The subdued Clarke-O’Connell broke from his own half, beat two defenders and crossed for Sam Giles whose majestic overhead kick flashed narrowly past the post with keeper Bennett rooted to the spot. Two minutes later a goal bound shot from Clarke O'Connell was blocked by Scott Glasby.

A minute later winger Matt Foster had Gornal’s best chance of the half, he beat the offside trap and broke through on goal with just keeper Lees Stevens to beat. The young keeper stood tall forcing Foster to delay his shot and as the angle narrowed Lees-Stevens brought off a fine save with his legs to deny the Gornal striker.

The fortunes of the game changed in the 61st minute when the home side were reduced to 10 men. A heavy tackle by Brooks on Darlaston midfielder Dave Richards justified a yellow card but as both players rose to their feet words were exchanged and for no obvious reason Brooks thrust his hand into the face of Richards sending the diminutive midfielder tumbling to the ground. Referee Lewis Mountain had no choice but to show Brooks a straight Red Card sending the Gornal midfielder off for the second game running against Darlaston. Brooks was sent off earlier in the season at The Paycare Ground for a tackle also on Dave Richards.

Darlaston were now in the ascendancy with the Gornal central defensive partnership of Ben Podmore and Connor Fellows superb at the heart of the defence making several last-ditch challenges and clearances.

The winning goal came 15 minutes from time. Darlaston forced two consecutive corners. Firstly, great work by Taylor created a chance for Clarke-O’Connell who forced Bennett into a save the keeper turning the ball around the post. Under pressure from Ashley Justin Gornal captain Podmore conceded a second corner heading the ball over his own bar. Sam Giles whipped in a right-wing corner which found substitute Martin Stanton at the near post, Stanton set up Justin whose right foot finish from 8 yards found the top corner of the net to give the visitors a well-deserved lead.

Darlaston missed a guilt edged opportunity to put the game beyond Gornal in the 86th minute. Sam Giles broke clear down the right his cross found Taylor unmarked at the back post but somehow the striker headed the ball against the bar.

Six minutes of added time ensured both sets of supporters endured a tense and dramatic finish. Cox drove wide for the home side but neither side created any clear-cut opportunities and Darlaston held on comfortably to secure a vital 3 points and maintain the pressure on the top two teams, Wem Town and Newport Town.

Darlaston were not at their fluent best on a pitch that didn’t help their style of football, but the 2-1 win could prove important at the business end of the season.

This Saturday Darlaston return to The Paycare Ground after a 3-week absence. they entertain Herefordshire based Kington Town in a West Midlands Regional League Division One fixture at The Paycare Ground, Bentley Leisure Pavilion, Bentley Road, North, Bentley, Walsall WS2 0EA Kick Off 2.00pm.