Darlaston Town welcome Market Drayton to the Paycare Stadium tomorrow afternoon for a second home game inside a week, the last being a fantastic 1-0 win over Atherstone Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Tomorrow’s league game is the first time Market Drayton have visited The Paycare Stadium, and its also their first season at Step 5 of The National League System after being relegated from the Northern Premier League Midlands Division at the end of last season.

This season started well for with a 2-1 win over Shifnal Town in the FA Cup followed by a 1-0 away win at Worcester City. Their only win and points of the season so far because in their 21 games played this season, they have lost their last 20 and accrued a -39.

Irrespective of Market Drayton’s position in the table and form guide, as Darlaston are fully aware every game this season is a battle and tomorrow will definitely be no different.

Market Drayton have lost their last 6 league fixtures, in the middle of November losing away at Lichfield City 3-0, beaten at home by Studley at the beginning of December 5-2 with Harvey Lewis and Jamie Hands on the scoresheet, this was followed in mid-week by a 2-0 loss at Lye Town.

In the MFL League Cup in the lead up to Christmas a 4-1 loss at local rivals Whitchurch Alport. A week later in the big Christmas game, Drayton travelled once again to their big rivals Whitchurch, who this time inflicted a big 6-2 loss. Orlando Joao and Rune Corinaldi scoring for Market Drayton.

In between the loss at Whitchurch and last Monday’s game the club appointed Adam Shillcock as their new Manager along with his assistants Steve Benyon and Henry Ward-Titley. The Bank Holiday game against Highgate United came far too quickly for Shillcock and his management team to have any effect as Highgate won easily 4-0, the league’s top scorer Ryan Harkin helping himself to another brace to add to his seasons total of 28.

Shillcock and his assistants will obviously look to change and mould the squad, he is bound to want to include his own players and has added two players and possibly a third since his appointment, firstly Mattie France on a dual registration from Nantwich Town and Whitchurch centre-back Seydou Bamba, the third will be announced this evening.

Following Monday’s outstanding performance and result against Atherstone the squad trained on Wednesday evening in readiness for tomorrow’s fixture. The squad currently is beset with knocks, injuries and suspensions and maybe bolstered tomorrow with the addition of a couple of new faces, if the transfers are completed before tomorrow mornings deadline.

Irrespective of the make-up of tomorrow’s squad, Darlaston’s management team will be stressing on the players the need for their usual high level of performance which will be needed to get anything out of the game tomorrow, there are definitely no free games in this league. We have found out on too many occasions that games against clubs at the bottom of the division can be, and have been, banana skins.

Tomorrow is once again “Bring a Tin” day, or any other non-perishable items for the Leon Taylor Food Bank. Last Monday’s response was astounding, for which we on behalf of Leon’s family and the Taylor Family Church are exceptionally grateful for all donations received and hopefully this will continue throughout the month of January.

Tomorrows game kicks off at 3.00 p.m. Gates open at 1.00 p.m.

Usual admission prices of Adults £6.00, Concessions £4.00, Children under 10 Free.

There will of course be a programme available on the gate priced at £2.00 and a team sheet within the bar area, pre-match.

The bar will of course be serving its usual pre-match hot and cold food and we hope to see as many Darlaston fans tomorrow as possible to support the squad in their quest to continue their recent good form.

We hope to see as many of you as possible tomorrow afternoon, and PLEASE don’t forget to bring a tin, if every supporter does that 200 plus tins the local community will benefit from.