First Team
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Wed 28 Nov 2018
Bilston Town FC
T Herbert (60'), R Boothe (83')
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4
Darlaston Town (1874) FC
First Team
A Solomon (9'), D Bolzon (14'), N Diallo (48'), (72')
Darlaston progress in JW Hunt Cup at the expense of local rivals Bilston Town

Darlaston progress in JW Hunt Cup at the expense of local rivals Bilston Town

Simon Cox29 Nov 2018 - 21:55
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Two goals in each half secure Darlaston a place in the third round at Atherstone Town

Darlaston travelled three miles down the Black Country Route on a wet and windy night to renew hostilities against local rivals Bilston Town in a second round J.W. Hunt Cup tie.

After last weekends 2-1 win at Old Wulfrunians, the Management duo of Parkes and Moore juggled their pack making five changes, Isaac Cooper was unavailable because of being cup-tied, but Sam Causton, Scott Glasby, Ant Follows and Leon Taylor were relegated to the bench and off the bench came Jarrad Grant, Alex Solomon, Noah Diallo and Ryan Kingdon along with new signing Ashley Evans signed from Wolves Casuals earlier this week.

Bilston Manager Scott Hamilton also juggled his pack with several players that have started in recent games, also being on the bench.

It did not take long into the game for the first goal In the 9th minute Darlaston took the lead. An Ashley Evans corner from Darlaston’s right found Jamie Holder beyond the far post who headed the ball back into the danger area to Alex Solomon, his left foot finish found its way through a crowd of players into the home sides net giving Darlaston a dream start.

The lead was doubled 5 minutes later after 14 minutes with Italian Daniel Bolzon scoring after being played in by Ryan Kingdon who threaded a through ball behind the square home defence allowing Bolzon to collect the ball at full pace. An early right foot finish found its way between the defenders and keepers’ legs giving Darlaston a 2-0 lead. As the half wore on, Darlaston took control not only in the defensive but midfield areas also.

The only effort of note in the first half by Bilston was in the 22nd minute when ex-Darlaston forward Hayden Hughes forced Liam Whittaker into a low save to his left-hand side. Darlaston had several attempts on goal forcing Bilston’s Mark Brach into diving saves, firstly Noah Diallo in the 31st minute from a free kick following a fowl on the live-wire Daniel Bolzon, Jarrad Grant had a forward run with a first blocked effort and second powerful curling effort just whistling past the post. Grant was not finished there, after yet another foul on Bolzon 30 yards out, by the now over-worked Bilston defence. Grant smashed a ball which keeper Brach did well to keep out at full stretch..

Just before the half-time interval Darlaston should have gone further ahead, a Diallo corner was met again at the far post by Jamie Holder, his well-directed and powerful header ricocheted away for a goal kick, when it looked like he had scored.

As the referee blew for the half-time interval, the visitors from Division One had controlled the majority of the play in the first half and out of the two Managers Scott Hamilton had more work to do in the half-time interval.

At the beginning of the second half Hamilton rang the changes introducing Tory Herbert and Ashanti Pryce. Before they could influence the game in any way the visitors increased their lead to 3-0 in the 48th minute. A ball from Alex Solomon from midfield found Frenchman Noah Diallo who found himself unmarked at the far post, his cool finish through the keeper’s legs gave Darlaston an unassailable lead.

The substitutions made at half-time were having a significant inpact because Bilston were now on the front-foot forcing Darlaston back at every opportunity, On 56 minutes Herbert forced the keeper into his second save of the evening. The home side went even further 4 minutes later, opening their account for the evening Herbert’s crisp right foot finish from the left-hand angle of the penalty area to reduce Bilston’s arrears to 3-1. Shortly afterwards Darlaston’s Noah Diallo was yellow-carded for a foul on keeper Brach, harshly.

Bilston made their final substitute in the 66th minute withdrawing Hayden Hughes and replacing him with top-scorer Ryan Booth.

Darlaston took full advantage of a slice of luck in the 77th minute. A poor clearance from Bilston's keeper Mark Brach was controlled by Noah Diallo thirty yards out from goal, his quick thinking and deft touch allowed him to chip the keeper with a sublime finish as he rushed back to his line, the ball bounced into the empty net securing the win.

The scoring was not finished there. Ryan Booth scored Bilston’s second of the night in the 83rd minute with a header from a corner, but as the game was coming to an end Bilston laid siege to the Darlaston penalty area and the visitor’s defence was forced into desperate defending at times.

So huge relief around the ground for the Darlaston fans when the referee blew the final whistle, securing passage into the Third Round and an away tie at last Seasons’ competition winners Atherstone Town and conquerors of Darlaston last Season for a date likely to be early in the New Year.

Darlaston’s next game is away at Sikh Hunters back in The West Midlands Regional Division One on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Long Lane, Essington for a 3.00 p.m. kick-off.

Match details

Match date

Wed 28 Nov 2018

Kickoff

19:45
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