Tomorrow sees Darlaston return to the Mark Webster Community Stadium to face Atherstone Town for the second season running this time for a Quarter Final tie in this seasons J.W. Hunt Cup.

Last year’s second, round trip to the Adders ended Darlaston’s J.W. Hunt Cup run after Atherstone outclassed Andy Parkes squad by winning by a comfortable 6-1 margin. After the win, they went on to win the charity cup competition by beating Wolves Sporting in the final 1-0. A late goal from Liam Kirton with 6 minutes to go secured the trophy not only for Atherstone’s first win in the competition but also, they became the first Warwickshire team to lift the cup.

In this seasons competition they received a walkover in the first round as Press FC from the Mercian League didn’t fulfil the fixture. The second round required Atherstone to travel to West Midlands Premier League side AFC Bridgnorth, after 90 minutes the scores were level at 2-2, Atherstone going behind in each half. Penalties decided the tie, Atherstone ran out clear winners scoring four to Bridgnorth’s one.

Atherstone play within Division One of the Total Motion Midlands League at Step 6 in the FA Football pyramid, which is at the same level as the West Midlands (Regional) Premier Division.

Atherstone despite their Cup success last season missed out on promotion into the Total Motion Midland League Premier Division by three points to Walsall Wood who went up as champions and second placed Ilkeston Town who now lead the Premier Division by 4 points over Walsall Wood.

The Adders are currently in fourth position behind Heather St. Johns, Lichfield City and Racing Warwick having played 21 games, won 15, drawn 2 and lost 4, two of those four have been in the last six games.

Atherstone beat their promotion rivals Racing Warwick 4-2 away from home to go second in the table in mid-November, since then in order of League games, they trounced Heath Hayes 5-0 and then lost to Rocester at home 1-0. A pre-Christmas 3-0 win over near neighbours Hinckley followed by a big local derby Boxing Day win at Nuneaton Griff 6-2.
Last Saturday Atherstone were beaten at home 2-1 by fifth placed Leicester Road, which has closed the gap to seven points between the two teams.

Atherstone have been pressing hard over recent seasons looking to be promoted into the Total Motion Midland Premier League, the same league as the West Midlands Premier League Champions get promoted too, Darlaston will enter tomorrow’s game as underdogs and it would be huge shock if Darlaston beat the cup holders to progress into the semi-finals, but you never know what can happen in a one off game.

The management duo of Parkes and Moore will know doubt select their squad for the game very carefully, given that some players are carrying injuries and knocks. Even though Darlaston don’t have a league game this coming weekend, with a near two weeks break on the horizon certain players are likely to be rested to ensure they are fit for the coming games.

In speaking to Parkes earlier this morning he said “This is where Cup competitions are great, we get to travel and play against teams and on grounds that we would not normally visit. Atherstone Town have a superb reputation and have been pressing really hard over recent seasons for promotion. We go into tomorrows game as definite underdogs, the lads are looking forward to trying to put last seasons poor performance against them right and to once again play under floodlights. We hope that as many as we hope to see as many of the Darlaston supporters travelling at the Long Distance into Warwickshire and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening”.

Please come and support the lads at The Mark Webster Community Stadium, Sheepy Road, Atherstone. CV9 3AD. Kick-off is 7.45 pm.