With League leaders Walsall Wood's game at Wolverhampton casuals postponed Darlaston took full advantage closing the gap at the top to three points with a solid win against Warwickshire based Studley FC. With just eight games of the season left Wood are still in pole position to take the league title, with a three point advantage and a game in hand, but Dean Gill's men remain hot on their heels.

An excellent Studley side made it very difficult for the home side, Ben Welsh excelling in both attack and defence whilst Ruben Freeman and Emmanuel Olaloko proved a handful on both wings. Both posed an attacking threat, but with little end product as Alex Foreshaw, Lewis Gill and Ben Podmore all stood firm to repel any threat.

After a fairly even start Darlaston took the lead on 24 minutes. Josh Jones ran fully 30 yards down the right flank, his cross being turned home from close range by Kieran Miller, who netted his fourth goal in four games.

Ashton de Mulder and Dale Edwards both sent long range free kicks high and wide for the visitors, whilst Miller, Jack Downing and Rivel Mardenborough all failed to connect cleanly with difficult half chances.

Welsh continued to impress in midfield for Studley whilst Mitch Botfield, Jake Pearson and Liam Wilkinson worked tirelessly in midfield to break up the visitors attacking play whilst looking for every opportunity to put Darlaston in the ascendancy.

Neither goalkeeper was particularly troubled, young home keeper Jack Myatt handling well in difficult conditions but without having a save of note to make. For the visitors former Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Halesowen keeper Brendan Bunn was also impressive commanding his box and handling confidently.

Both sides continued to play some neat controlled football but defences remained on top, clear chances hard to come by.

Downing continued to pose a threat down the right flank whilst Mardenborough and Dominic Dell keeper the Studley back line busy. Several long throws from Studley's Jake Bloomer were cleared by the powerful central defensive partnership duo of Foreshaw and Podmore.

Darlaston had the edge and looked threatening with several good moves and half chances all coming to nothing.

Probably the best skill of the game came on 84 minutes which resulted in Darlaston adding a second goal to secure the points. Myatt's pinpoint clearance was superbly brought down by Dell 10 yards inside the visitors half, he cut inside his defender, his sublime 30 yard pass into the path of Mardenborough, splitting open the visitors defence. Mardenborough rounded keeper Bunn but with the goal at his mercy was brought down by Bunn. Lewis Gill converted the penalty to give the home side a little breathing space.

After the game Darlaston boss Dean Gill reflected- " Well, the tough games keep coming. I knew today would be a very difficult game. When we played them away they were excellent and we were fortunate to come away with a point. I told my players they would come and take us on and that's exactly what they did. They fought and battled for every ball for 90 minutes, playing some lovely stuff along the way. Ben Welsh is as good as anyone in the league in that role and they had lively forwards who were always a handful.

For us I thought Jake Pearson and Liam Wilkinson worked their socks off and negated most of their threats whilst Josh Jones continues to impress every game. (Kieran) Miller has now scored in four consecutive games and gives opposing defenders a torrid time, Rivel (Mardenborough) is a perfect foil for any out and out striker, he is calm and his positional play was exceptional. Dom Dell's control and quality of pass which created the penalty was superb.

We were short of our best today, but what we lacked in quality at times, we made up for in work rate and the will to win. I am very proud of my players today, that was a tough game against a very good side and we came through it."