Darlaston progressed to the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time in 15 years with a hard earned 5-2 win against Midland League Division One Paget Rangers.

In a less than convincing performance Darlaston needed 3 goals in nine second half minutes before finally securing their passage into the next round.

In a game that was in the balance until 80 minutes, the visitors made the best possible start when Bishop's through ball found Lewis Gill who shrugged off his marker to slip the ball underneath advancing keeper Adam Foster from 18 yards for the opening goal.

Paget responded superbly to the early set back, Shevron Channer and Harry Parker impressing, whilst Anthony Umoh had a header cleared off the line by Josh Jones, Darlaston needed young keeper Harvey Coley to save superbly from Channer whilst Simpson's header hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

At the other end Aaron Bishop, Jack Downing and Rivel Mardenborough were causing difficulties for the home defence all having half chances to add to the lead, but Paget's central defensive duo of Simon Chin and Dom Ellington were excellent at the heart of the home defence.

Darlaston's rejigged defence was further depleted with Ben Priest and fullback Josh Jones both picked up injuries to be replaced by midfielders Liam Wilkinson and Ryan Winwood as they played more than an hour with just two of the back five that played against Wolverhampton Casuals in midweek, finishing the game.

The game was fairly even but Darlaston were more clinical, doubling their advantage on 38 minutes with a Ronnee Hendricks thunderbolt after a cut back from James Rowland, as they went into the half time interval somewhat fortuitously, two goals to the good.

Within five minutes of the restart Paget were back in the game, substitute Tobias Marshall with the goal.

The goal gave Paget a boost and desire as they started to push the visitors further back, Channer and Marshall causing all sorts of difficulties with their power and pace. Periods of sustained Paget pressure were interspersed with Darlaston breakaways as both teams went in search of the next goal,

Paget's pressure finally told on 76 minutes when substitute Freddie Cockerill, clipped the ball home from 12 yards to give Paget a deserved equaliser.

Instead of deflating the visitors, the Paget equaliser actually, spurred Darlaston into action and somewhat surprisingly they actually played their best football of the game in the closing stages, with three goals in the final nine minutes.

Firstly, on 80 minutes, Mardenborough cut the ball back from the goal line for an unmarked Kieron Miller to tap home from 4 yards. Two minutes later Aaron Bishop burst through the heart of the home defence to score from 20 yards.

The final goal came on 89 minutes, Wilkinson smashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive high into the roof of the net.

Following the game boss Dean Gill reflected - "Fair play to Paget Rangers they were excellent today and could easily have gone through themselves. At 2-2 they were on top, but we responded magnificently, after conceding the equaliser. We were never entirely comfortable at any stage. We were off colour today, disjointed at times, and they wouldn't allow us to get into any rhythm. If it is possible, at times, my players tried too hard and as a consequence we got caught out of position on several occasions, chasing around after lost causes. We can and will put that right. That said we started and finished strongly and scored five good goals, spreading the goals amongst five players. Scoring five goals when not playing at your best is pleasing and I have to be happy overall”.