After last Saturday’s 2-1 win the first win of Darlaston’s pre-season campaign, Andy Parkes and his team play their final pre-season friendly at last years West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division Champions Tividale, who this season after promotion returned to the Total Motion Midland League Premier Division at Step 5 of the Non-League football ladder.

Manager Parkes said of Saturdays win against Coton Green “I was delighted with the first half performance. We are getting closer to the standard of football we will be trying to play this season. Its not just about going forward it’s also about keeping shape and to be honest players giving nothing than 100% in their work rate and endeavour, that why we trained so hard before playing any games. If we are to be successful, this season we have to be a lot fitter than last season.”

Andy finished off by saying “We decided that we would really test the players this pre-season, not only in training, but also in the games we have played, where the result was not so important, but the development of the players as well as developing methods and styles of play we need use this season. “

The short trip across the Black Country to The Beeches, home of last season Premier Division Champions Tividale brings both clubs pre-season campaign to a close in readiness for their first League game of the new season in their new Leagues next Saturday. Darlaston have a long trip to promotion and title favourites Pershore Town, where as Tividale travel in the opposite direction along the M6 to Coventry Sphinx.

Tividale recruited well since the end of last season, but lost their top scorer 32 goal Demetri Brown to Worcester City, which must have been a real blow. But they have added Emile Beckford, and Jake Webb to re-signed forwards Tyree Clarke and 21 goal Daniel Smith.

Midfielders Darragh Bustin 27 goals last season, Liam Wilkinson and Brad Welding have also bee retained with Luke Carter, young Cameron Milne added. Defensively Tom Hurdman, Dan Bryson, Matt Hunt have remained from last season successful squad along with keepers Louis Connor, Ryan Cheshire, with Ryan Pratt being recently added.

So far Tividale have won their first three pre-season friendlies, beating Cadbury’s 5-1, Bewdley Town 5-2, a close game at Tipton Town resulted in a 5-4 win for Tividale. Tomorrows opponents have lost their last two matches, 4-2 to Darlaston’s opening League opposition Pershore Town 4-2, and Saturday a 2-0 loss at The Beeches to BetVictor Northern Premier League Southern Division Sutton Coldfield.

Both Mangers will be looking for a win from tomorrows game to take some momentum into Saturdays first League fixture.

The full address of The Beeches is Tividale FC Packwood Road, Tividale, OLDBURY, B69 1UL, Kick off 7.45 PM.

Entrance id £5 for adults, £3 for concessions, U16’s are free as long as they are with a paying adult