After last weeks trip into deepest Shropshire, Darlaston now travel in the opposite direction into Worcestershire to travel to a ground that the club knows so well at Claines Lane now called the County Sports Ground, when we visit the new home of Worcester City for the first time for our middle game of three consecutive away games.

The clubs met very early on in the season towards the end of August, Darlaston beating Worcester City 2-0 at The Paycare Stadium with goals from Dominic Dell and Lewis Gill. Since then both clubs fortunes have been at the opposite end of the scale. I think that it is common knowledge that this season Worcester City would not have expected to be where they have found themselves within the bottom half of the table, as expectations were so high before the season started.

Worcester City, who are on their third management team of the season and now under the stewardship of Chris Corns who historically has locked horns with Darlaston as joint manager of Worcester Raiders and manager of Bewdley Town but under the guidance of Corns and his management team who are in the process of turning the clubs fortunes around overseeing several wins since being appointed in November last year. In recent weeks Worcester have beaten Corns’ old club Bewdley 1-0 at the end of January followed by the same result beating Tividale and then Worcester City have played their last three games all at their Claines Lane County Sports Ground losing 2-1 to Wolves Casuals followed by a 0-0 draw last Saturday against Lichfield City, followed by an outstanding 3-1 win against Shifnal Town on Tuesday evening.

Worcester City are clearly in very good form and as always will present very creditable opponents for tomorrow’s fixture and as always, Dean Gill’s squad will need to be at their best to get anything out of the game, especially after last weekends result there are absolutely no easy games in this league, every single point has to be fought for and tomorrow will be no different.

Darlaston, after their 1-1 draw at bottom club Market Drayton Town last Saturday have had an interesting week. A planned and very good friendly against West Midlands League Division Two side Wombourne All Stars on Tuesday evening saw players who have not had much pitch time recently given a substantial run out. Darlaston won the game 6-1, the result was really quite immaterial, it was the performance of Darlaston’s young players taking advantage of playing time together with some of the more senior players contributing very little or if at all in the fixture.

Darlaston are expected to be at full strength for tomorrows fixture and will look to continue their unbeaten run as their end of season push continues.

Tomorrows match day information is a little different. The game is being played at:

Worcester City FC
Claines Lane
WORCESTER
WR3 7SS

And for those long-term Darlaston supporters that is Worcester Raiders old ground, although it has undergone significant development since we last visited.

Entrance –
Adults £8.00,
Concessions £6.00,
Junior (12-18 years old) £3.00,
Under 12 FREE but must be accompanied by an adult 18 years +

Parking:
Parking has always been an issue at Claines Lane at the RGS, The Grange, for £2.00 per car (Cash Only) which is a 10 minute walk from the ground and also at The River School for £3.00 per car (Cash Only).

Please note that there is NO parking available on Claines Lane, Grange Lane or underneath the bridge crossing the A38 on the Droitwich Road. Anyone who parks on the lanes will not be permitted entry to the game, as part of the ground regulations.

Please click Worcester City Parking Plan 2022/23 to see a for local map showing ground entrance and car parking locations etc.

If however you do wish to purchase your ticket and parking in advance of travelling to Worcester, please click this following link Worcester City Match & Parking Tickets which will take you through to the Worcester City ticketing system.

We hope to see as many Darlaston supporters as possible tomorrow, as this is one of the fixtures where Dean Gill’s squad will definitely need your support over and above the normal partisan Worcester City spectators and we hope to see you there for a 3.00 p.m. kick-off.