Darlaston gave their own play-off hopes a boost, and put a dent in Lichfield's title and automatic promotion hopes, with an emphatic 4-0 win at the sun drenched Paycare Stadium.

With Ryan Winwood unavailable, Jason Wood came in and proved a more than capable replacement, with an excellent all round performance. This being one of two changes by boss Dean Gill, James Rowland also rested with Josh Jones returning to the starting line up after a three game absence.

Lichfield went into the game in fine form, with 6 wins and a draw in their previous seven league games, with high hopes of automatic promotion, but Darlaston playing their best football of the season over recent weeks, were simply too good for their illustrious opponents, with three superb quality goals and a penalty making their goals tally 14 for and none conceded in their last four league games, all played in just 7 days.

Lichfield had the wind to their backs in the first half, Cameron Duff shooting wide in the early stages. Darlaston were playing the difficult windy conditions superbly with short sharp passing movements, Wood, and Jake Pearson both impressing in midfield.

Darlaston took the lead on 12 minutes. A Josh Jones pass sent Jack Downing clear down the right flank, before Downing was bundled over near the touchline. Wood whipped in a pin point free kick which was powerfully headed home by skipper Alex Foreshaw from 6 yards.

The goal gave the home side confidence to press home their advantage and they remained in control for large spells in the game. Cameron Dunn was lively for the visitors but the central defensive pairing of Foreshaw and Ben Podmore shackled the Division's top goalscorer, Dan Smith, limiting the prolific striker to a couple of long distance strikes. Both keepers were pretty quiet as defensive were generally on top. The only chance of note fell to Rivel Mardenborough for the home side. Following good work by Kieran Cook, his right wing cross was pulled down by Mardenborough, the striker swivelled in the area but his right foot shot went high over the bar.

The second half saw Darlaston with the wind at their backs, out muscle Lichfield winning most 50/50 balls dictating play and restricting Lichfield to a Dan Lomas header and a Dom Lewis strike both failing to trouble keeper Tom Allsopp.

Substitute James Rowland doubled the lead on 50 minutes from the penalty spot. A mistake by Luke Childs let in Mardenborough who was brought down by keeper James Beeson as he bore down on goal. Rowland stepped up to convert easily for his 18th goal of the season.

Darlaston were now in complete control, the third and best goal of the game coming 8 minutes later. Aaron Bishop went on a 30 yard run, leaving 3 defenders in his wake, before side stepping keeper Beeson and clipping home a superb goal from 4 yards into the far corner. A quite sublime goal.

A superb four man move saw Darlaston add their fourth on 70 minutes. From just inside his own half substitute Lewis Gill played in Bishop, the striker dummied Childs to lay off a pass to Rowland who made progress down the left flank before a pin point pass across the face of goal was met by Kieron Miller to slide in at the back post and complete the scoring.

As Darlaston took their foot off the pedal, looking to manage the game to its conclusion, Lichfield saw more of the ball and had their best spell of the game in the closing 10 minutes or so.

Darlaston ran down the clock managing the closing stages professionally to conclude a superb win against an excellent Lichfield side.

Following the game Darlaston boss Dean Gill said " For the fourth time in 7 days, my team has beaten an excellent team, and I could not be more delighted. Ivor (Green - Lichfield manager) is a top man and manager and has assembled an excellent Lichfield squad, who can still win the league. They had only lost 3 league games before today and have the best defensive record in the Division, and are also the league’s second highest scorers, and have the league's leading goalscorer. So, to beat them in the manner that we did was very pleasing.

I thought Woody (Jason Wood) stepped in superbly for the absent Ryan Winwood, whilst every other player was equally as impressive. Considering it was our fourth game in 7 days against top opponents, our work rate was first rate. Three of the goals were top quality, and our back four were magnificent today. We still have another three games to go in the regular league season. Despite winning four games on the bounce the teams around us are also in good shape, so we need to stay focussed, if we are to stay in one of the play-off places".