Match Preview

Darlaston return to league action at the Paycare Stadium tomorrow afternoon when Stone Old Alleynians travel from their Staffordshire home for a Midland Football League Premier Division fixture.

Stone Old Alleynians so far this season appear to be draw specialists, very much the same as Darlaston, tomorrow’s visitors have played 12 league games, two more than Darlaston but both clubs have drawn five games so far, Stone’s remaining seven games have produced three wins and four losses, allowing them to occupy a mid-table position on 14 points.

In cup competitions, Stone lost on the opening day to Atherstone in the Emirates FA Cup, but in the Isuzu FA vase Stone beat promotion, Shifnal Town at their Acoustafoam Stadium 3-1. In the First Round Proper next Saturday they will travel to MFL Division One League leaders Hinckley AFC. In the JW Hunt Cup, a 6-0 win over West Midlands Regional League side Dudley Sports has given Stone another trip to the Paycare Stadium in the Second Round assuming Darlaston get past Wombourne Allstars on Wednesday 25th October.

In Stone’s last three league fixtures all played at home tomorrows opponents have drawn 1-1 with second placed Congleton Town, followed by a 6-0 thumping of bottom club Bewdley Town. Last Saturday Stone Old Alleynians were beaten 2-1 by Lichfield City.

Under the stewardship of Player Manager Luke Askey Stone kept the majority of last season’s squad the majority of which have been on the scoresheet so far this season, dangerman Jack Tomlinson leads the clubs’ scoring charts with five, followed by Sam Wilson, Matthew Thomas, and the Player Manager Luke Askey, who have both scored three times this season. Eight other players have scored two goals so far.

The fixtures between the clubs last season produced the same result, Darlaston winning 3-1 at the Paycare Stadium with goals from Josh Jones, Lewis Gill, and the recently departed Kieron Miller. In the reverse fixture two weeks later Stone Old Alleynians won 3-1, Lewis Gill scoring late on from the penalty spot for Darlaston.

Darlaston, meanwhile having taken a two-goal lead in the second half last weekend at Wolverhampton Casuals suffered two minutes of madness last weekend were held to a 2-2 draw.

Manager Dean Gill took the opportunity to rest players with knocks and minor injuries this midweek when he made eight changes to the starting line up on Wednesday evening at Rugby Borough for the Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup tie. After conceding twice in the opening 7 minutes Darlaston went on the rampage scoring ten times to progress into the second round of the competition winning 10-3.

Darlaston should have a fully fit squad for tomorrow’s game with the exception of Recce Mason who looks to be out until early December at the earliest, but after Wednesdays big win the management team are bound to have some selection headaches.

As usual gates open at 1 pm tomorrow along with the bar which will be serving its usual pre-match menu of hot and cold food.

Admission Adults £7 concessions £5 children under 10 free
Programmes will be on sale at £2 available from the pay hut and a teamsheet will be distributed in the bar prior to kick off.

We hope to see as many Darlaston supporters at tomorrow’s fixture as there are no Premier League and Division One games this weekend due to the international break so why not come to the Paycare Stadium and football fix by watching two good non-league teams battle it out for three points.