Congleton earned promotion to The Northern Premier League at the end of the 2023/24 season by winning The Midlands Football League Premier Division, the season Darlaston also were promoted from the same Division after beating Lichfield City in the play-off final.

Last season, their first in The Northern Premier League West Division, The Bears had a great season finishing third in the table, behind Wigan who were champions and Hednesford Town. In the play off semi-final Congleton beat Chasetown needing penalties to meet Hednesford Town in the final. It wasn’t to be for The Bears they lost to Hednesford 2-0 thanks to goals from Jack Burn and Jake Jervis, earning Hednesford Town promotion to The Northern Premier League Premier Division and leaving Congleton Town to play a second season in the West Division.

This season The Bears going into tomorrow’s game are level on points with Darlaston Town, one place above tomorrow’s hosts having played 26 games, won 5, drawn 9 and lost 12 with 24 points.

Games between the clubs have been extremely close over recent seasons. They met back in September, Congleton winning 1-0 thanks to a 63rd minute goal by substitute Max McCarthy.

Going into tomorrow’s fixture, Congleton have in their last six fixtures won one, lost three and drawn two out of their last three game. The win was over Sporting Khalsa (1-0) in December. The three losses were at Shifnal Town (3-1) and at home against Nantwich Town (2-0) and current league leaders Lower Brek (3-2). The two draws both at the Cleric Stadium, were against Kidsgrove (1-1) and on Tuesday evening Newcastle Town (0-0).

Top scorer Max McCarthy who has scored 9 goals so far this season has been out recently injured but is close to recovery he may be part of tomorrows match day squad given the importance of the fixture. Ebou Badjie is on 4, followed by Danny Needham and Matthew Gillam who have scored 3 each.

A win for either club is so important given that both clubs are at the wrong end of the table and working so hard to avoid relegation.

Darlaston meanwhile go into the fixture on a run of good results since the turn of the year beating Shifnal Town and Avro at The Paycare Stadium, and last Saturday secured an excellent 2-2 draw at Bury.

Kieron Cooke will miss the game through suspension after two yellow cards against Bury and Darlaston’s management team have been working so hard to try to add members to the squad over the past week.

As usual the gates open at 1.00 p.m.

Admission: Adults £10.00, Concessions £8.00, Under 18’s £4.00
Programmes - £2.00

Cash and card payments accepted on the gate.

The bar open all afternoon serving hot and cold food.

Darlaston needs your support and if every Darlaston supporter brought a friend, family member, work colleague or someone with them, it would certainly swell the crowd at The Paycare Stadium.

Having played in some excellent atmospheres recently, I am sure that the team would appreciate a large crowd at The Paycare Stadium tomorrow.