Darlaston welcome Highgate United to The Paycare Stadium the first game for many weeks following several postponed games including friendlies.

Darlaston last played at home in the league on 7th January 2023 when an exciting game finished in a Darlaston 2-1 win against Market Drayton. In the meantime, Dean Gill’s squad has slipped down from joint second in the league with Shifnal Town down to sixth without kicking a ball, due to games being played on 3G surfaces. The top 6 in the Division are now condensed with 2nd to 6th separated by just a single point.

Highgate United currently occupy 8th place and have played 21 games with 12 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses with a goal difference of 19 most of their their goals scored by the prolific Ryan Harkin who has scored 30 goals in 26 games this season. The clubs next highest scorer is Jack Till with 9 in 22.

Like Darlaston, Highgate have not played a league fixture since 7th January and in fact since the beginning of December, Highgate United have played just four fixtures, three in the league and a 7-0 loss to league leaders Walsall Wood in The FA Vase. Following that loss on 3rd December their next game was more than 3 weeks later on Boxing Day Bank Holiday when they beat local rivals Romulus 3-1 at their Tythe Barn Lane ground, Ryan Harkin scoring a brace with Jack Till adding the third. This was followed by a long trip to Market Drayton on New Years Bank Holiday with a 4-0 win being secured with Ryan Harkin scoring another brace, Charlie Shaw and Aaron Brown adding a fourth in injury time in the second half.

Highgate’s last fixture was at home against relegation threatened Worcester City, a 3-1 win Harkin once again scoring his obligatory brace with Richard Batchelor opening the scoring in the first half.

Darlaston and Highgate have already met earlier this season and played out a wonderful 2-2 draw under lights at Highgate. Darlaston went in at half-time 1-0 down thanks to a Ben Valance goal, then Podmore scored his first goal of the season in the 50th minute only for Ryan Harkin 7 minutes later to score following a scramble in the Darlaston goal area. The points were shared when Ravel Mardenborough scored in the 79th minute with a classy finish.

Tomorrow’s game promises so much, the surface at The Paycare Stadium should provide for an excellent spectacle as both sides like to play football in the correct manner.

Darlaston’s attempts to arrange friendlies over the past two mid-weeks have been thwarted by the weather and go into tomorrow’s fixture with new faces added to the squad who are expected to make manager Dean Gill’s final 16 for the game.

With the three week’s rest most short term injured players and their colleagues carrying knocks will have recovered fully, however Darlaston are missing two players for tomorrow’s fixture due to suspension.

Gates open at 1.00 p.m. The bar at the same time and will be serving its usual pre-match hot and cold menu.

Entrance: Adults £6.00, Concessions £4.00, Children under 10 Free

Programmes - £2.00
The programme is a special issue, as tomorrow’s game is being held in memory of Phil Whitehouse.

Kick-off 3.00 p.m.

The club will also be accepting donations for Leon Taylor’s Food Bank Appeal. Any donations will be gratefully accepted and we cannot stress the importance of how much your donations are needed within the local community.

All donations are to be left in the foyer on the table provided. Whilst we realise that times are hard for everyone, any donations large or small will be gratefully received and will make a difference.