Match Preview

Tomorrow Darlaston will be travelling to Sutton Coldfield to face MFL Division One side Paget Rangers for yet another important cup game, this time in the Second Round Qualifying of the Isuzu FA Vase after receiving a bye in the first round.

This competition is nationwide Step 5 & Step 6 clubs are eligible to enter. Ties are drawn in the early stages on a regional basis to avoid long journeys. Last season, current Midland Football Premier League sides, Atherstone Town reached the quarter-finals and Congleton Town the semi-finals. Therefore, the strength of the teams within our league, along with Walsall Wood’s success over recent seasons would suggest that the standard of the League in which we play, is one of the best in the country.

Tomorrow’s opponents Paget Rangers play their home games at the home of Sutton Coldfield Town, situated on Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield. So far this season Paget have things a little difficult, they are in 16th place within a Division of 20 teams, after playing league fixtures, winning three, drawing one, and losing six accruing a goal difference of -15.

Their last three league fixtures have produced a 1-1 draw at AFC Bridgnorth substitute Freddie Cockrell securing a point with a goal late on in the game, followed by a 5-0 loss at Darlaston’s local rivals Bilston Town. Last Saturday Paget Rangers won their third league game so far beating Smethwick Rangers 3-2 at home after being 2-1 down at half-time, Shevron Channer scoring a hat-trick to give Padget the three points.

In midweek, Padget were at home again beating Lane Head in the first round of The JW Hunt Cup, Brian Butler and Tobias Marshall scoring the goals in a 2-0 win.

In speaking to Darlaston fans over the past week, everyone seems to remember the last time we visited Coles Lane to play Paget two seasons ago under lights in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw It just seems to be one of those fixtures that sticks in many people’s memories.

After Wednesday night's 3-1 loss to Wolverhampton Casuals in the Moldwell Products League Cup, Dean Gill, and his management team along with all of the players will have obviously regrouped and it is expected some of the players who missed the gamer will be able to play some part tomorrow. Players who will definitely be missing tomorrow are Reece Mason and Farid Mikidam due to injury, along with the suspended Ben Podmore.

Entrance to tomorrow’s game is Adults £6.00, Concessions £4.00
Onsite parking is available on a first come first serve basis at a cost of £2.00.

Kick-off is 3.00 p.m.

The ground address is:

Sutton Coldfield FC
Coles Lane
Sutton Coldfield
B72 1NL

We hope to see as many Darlaston supporters as possible tomorrow to support the lads at this early stage of the Isuzu FA Vase.