Darlaston Town tomorrow welcome to the Paycare Ground for the first time Littleton Football Club who are playing their first season in the West Midlands (Regional) League after they were moved laterally by the F.A. in the non-League re-organisation at the end of last season from Division One of the Midland Football League.

Littleton Football Club was formed at the end of the 19th Century when three local village teams amalgamated to form the Football Club. Over the years the Club has played in Leagues based in Worcestershire as well also as the Midland Combination. When all of the Leagues were re-organised by the F.A. in 2014/15 when the Midland Alliance and Midland Combination merged to form the new Midland Football League, Littleton were placed in Division One where they have remained since the League’s inception.

Prior to the Season, given the quality of signings that they were making including two Alvechurch youngsters in Brogan Halpin and Dean Fisher along with experienced players such as the ex-Stourbridge and Lye Town Ben Billingham who was also joined by Lye player John Perlman as well as Carl Gardner Tividale’s long serving captain and fellow Tividale player Lewis Hadley. As the Season has progressed Littleton have added signed the likes of ex-Stourbridge, Tividale and Khalsa forward Lewis McPike, Black Country Rangers hot shot Adam Garmson as well as adding this month Harvey Warmington-Christmas ex-Alvechurch & Kidderminster Harriers player.

They are thought quite rightly one of the favourites to occupy the four promotion places available at the end of this season, which would see them rise into Step 5 subject to a satisfactory ground grading.

Currently, Littleton sit in mid-table in 8th position having played 12 games, won 5, drawn 2, lost 5 with a goal difference of 3, accumulating 17 points. 2 less than Darlaston who are in 4th place and having played a game less.

Their opening day baptism in the WMRL was not good as they lost 2-1 at Dudley Sports, but followed that up with a resounding 5-0 win against Dudley Town, Jade Ferron scoring 2 along with Dean Fisher, Ben Billingham and Luke Rowlands.

A creditable 0-0 draw at home to fellow promotion favourites Wolverhampton Casuals followed and another 3 points were won after a 2-1 win at home against Ludlow based Shawbury United, two more Ben Billingham goals secured the win.

A brief foray into the F.A. Vase was followed with a return to League action with a 3-0 loss at home to Pershore Town and followed by a 5-0 demolition at bottom club Wem. A hat trick from Ben Billingham with William Skelton and James Ward scoring the other goals.

Littleton seemed to have found some form the following League game and they were 4-0 up at Smethwick Rangers running out winners 5-1, Ben Billingham adding to his already impressive season’s total but new signing Adam Garmson scored a brace along with double from William Skelton.

The good form disappeared the following week as Dudley Town went a long way to avenge their earlier 5-0 mauling by Littleton, as the beat them 4-0 on the 3g pitch at their home ground. A second consecutive loss followed 2-1 against Wolves Sporting Community. Back to winning ways in early October with a 3-0 win at Wednesfield all goals coming the first half, 2 from Adam Garmson and an own-goal from Wednesfield giving Littleton the 3 points.

A 2-2 draw at A.F.C. Bridgnorth followed and then Littleton lost in their last League game at home 3-2 to Black Country Rangers. On 2nd November Garmson and Billingham scoring the goals.

Meanwhile, after Andy Parkes and his squad lost 3-2 to Worcester Raiders in the League Cup on Tuesday evening, will be looking to return back to League action after their impressive 0-0 draw to Wolves Casuals the week before. With long-term absentee’s Andy Heal and Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell, getting closer to being considered for selection in match day squads, the Darlaston Squad has two important figures back into the changing room and are back in full training looking to work with the squad at every session.

Parkes said after Tuesday’s loss “I cannot remember a time where we have not played Saturday afternoon football for four weeks. We are desperate to get tomorrow’s game on to try and build some kind of form and momentum into an important stage and time of the season for us, as all clubs will be looking to accumulate points before the Christmas Break. We face 7 games in four weeks playing in mid-week for the next four consecutive weeks in League and Cup Games and therefore we need to use this period to build some consistency.”

As usual tomorrow’s game will kick-off at 3 pm. And is likely to be subject to a pitch inspection early tomorrow morning given the forecast tomorrow and this evening, which is not pleasant.

We hope to see you at the Paycare Ground tomorrow afternoon, but please keep your eye on the clubs website and social media feeds for the news about the fixture.

Darlaston’s next game is at home on Tuesday evening against FC Stratford in the Birmingham County FA Midweek Cup. Kick off 7.45 pm