Yesterday Darlaston hosted an afternoon’s football in aid of the Asthma UK charity. Wolves All Stars supplied and extremely strong squad to talk on Darlaston Town Vets.
The whole aim of the game was to raise funds for Asthma UK, a charity extremely close to many at Darlaston following the tragic loss of Lauren “Lolly” Wilkinson who sadly passed away two years ago at the young age of 17 after an asthma attack lead to a cardiac arrest.
The day was a success with £400 being raised for the charity, everyone is one again extremely thankful for everyone that attended and also helped out on the day.
Also special thanks to all the volunteers at Darlaston Town (1874), who once again gave up their valuable tome to support such a wonderful cause, without this special group of people the club would be nowhere and their love and devotion collectively together with a unique group of fans create such a fantastic atmosphere which makes for such a friendly welcome as soon as visitors come through the gate, and why people keep coming back time after time. The club doesn’t do that, it’s the people that make the Club, that’s why Darlaston is so very special.
For the photographs of the game please click "Hugs for Lolly 2019"
Wolves All Stars ran out 2-0 winners, a goal in each half from Kyle Perry won the game, the first a looping header from a corner in the 26th minute. The second an acrobatic finish at the far post after Scott Bamford had pushed a Colin Taylor rocket from a tight angle onto the bar.
From the start, Wolves All Stars knocked the ball around, giving Darlo’s vets little possession. Up to the all Stars taking the lead, Darlo had Scott Bamford to thank for a number of fine saves all from Colin Taylor. Four times Bamford managed to save goal bound efforts from Taylor, two pushed either over or onto the bar, and the others saved low down.
Darlaston for the first half didn’t force Wolves keeper Nick Griffiths to make a save, despite Darlaston bringing in some “younger ringers”.
The second half started as the first ended, Wolves on top, after having another Kyle Perry goal disallowed in the 5th minute of the second half, a minute later he doubled Wolves lead, a difficult left footed finish after Bamford had pulled of another save.
As the second half wore on Darlaston’s younger players started to make their presence felt, they helped create chances for John ‘Revo’ Reeves, Mark Swann, and Isaac Cooper, all either blazed high and wide, or found Nick Griffiths hard to beat.
As the final whistle blew both sides embraced, a great afternoons entertainment for those who attended. We would like to thank Mel Eves and his assistants for agreeing to play the game, and we wish them well for what we hope is a very busy summer of charity games.
The list of both squads is below
Darlaston Town Vets | Wolves All Stars |
Scott Bamford | Nick Griffiths |
Jamie Taylor | Mark Duncombe |
Shaun Westley | Paul Richards |
Steve Beech | Todd Perry |
Gavin Ingles | Gordon Simms |
John Reeves | Jody Craddock |
Ant Follows | Seyi Olofinjana |
John Jinks | Colin Taylor |
John Ball | Kyle Perry |
Brian Humphries | Simon Dunkley |
Mark Swann | Josh Skidmore |
Anton Allen | Mel Eves |
Isaac Cooper | Ian Robotham |
Andy Parkes | Matt Smith |
Nick Lewis | Rob ‘Dodger’ Bradley |
Jason Jackson |