The last 5 days have been extremely productive as Darlaston Town, continue to push for a play-off spot in the Midland Football League Premier Division. Ten goals, nine points, no goals conceded, all within 5 days whist playing some quite superb football is just reward for three excellent team performances.

After two superb 4-0 wins, firstly at home to third placed Stourport Swifts, followed two days later with an emphatic 4-0 away win at AFC Wulfrunians, Darlaston made the long midweek trip to fellow play off hopefuls Stourport Swifts looking to complete the double of their rivals within the space of days. With Stourport suffering just one home league defeat all season, it was going to be a very tough ask, but for the third time in five days, the Darlaston players were quite superb, their work rate, energy and quality, breathtaking at times, as they returned from Worcestershire with 3 vital points.

Darlaston boss Dean Gill, kept the same starting line up as for the previous two games. Stourport boss Quentin Townsend made just one change that had lost to Darlaston on Saturday, Ethan Tivey dropping to the bench, with Malvern Town striker Jack Watts added to the Stourport attack.

The visitors made a bright start forcing two early corners which both came to nothing. Darlaston had the better of the play, "Birthday Boy" Rivel Mardenborough, combining superbly with Aaron Bishop and Kieron Cook who had both netted hat tricks in the previous two games.

Darlaston's ball retention was excellent, and they had the lion's share of the possession. Aaron Bishop having the best chance of the half, his 10 yard shot smothered by keeper Raajan Gill advancing from his goal to narrow the strikers angle. James Rowland and Kieran Cook both hit 20 yard free kicks over the bar whilst Ben Podmore and fellow central defender Alex Foreshaw both failed to get their headers on target from Harry Chesterton corners.

As in the previous game between the two teams Goodluck Eke, posed a threat with some excellent ball control and hold up play, whilst Watts and Ben Tilbury impressed but were shackled by Podmore and Foreshaw who were majestic for 90 minutes, winning virtually every header and defending superbly denying Stourport a clear attempt on Tom Allsopp's goal.

Despite sustained periods of high intensity and some excellent forward play the visitors could not break the deadlock, the Stourport back four quite superb with blocks and well timed tackles. The sides went into the half time break scoreless.

Within a minute of the restart Darlaston went in front. Once again it was Darlaston's work rate and energy, coupled with plenty of quality, which created the goal. Cook, thought he had lost the ball, before recovering well to get a cross field pass off to Rowland, the midfielder played a quite brilliant, incisive back heeled pass to full back Jack Downing who had made a 35 yard overlapping run down the right flank. The full back sending in a dipping shot from wide right which eluded keeper Gill to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Both sides then settled into their style of play as defences and midfield from both sides pretty much cancelled each other out. Clear chances hard to come by.

Ryan Winwood, Jake Pearson and James Rowland superb in midfield for the visitors, Jamie Meadows and Matt Harland impressing for Stourport. Both sides conceding needless free kicks, as Darlaston looked to hold on to what they had, whilst Stourport tried to push forward in search for the equaliser. Darlaston always seemed to have the edge, winning most 50/50 challenges, and looking the team most likely to add to their tally.

This they did on 66 minutes, and again their quality, tenacity, work rate and energy was evident for all to see. Aaron Bishop hooked the ball down the left wing, despite looking second best to win the ball, Rivel Mardenborough chased it down, blocking an attempted clearance and with quite superb vision spotting Gill off his line, his first time shot with great precision and a quality finish beat the keeper from 20 yards out, just five yards in from the left touchline.

Minutes later, Kieran Cook headed over a Ryan Winwood corner.

As Darlaston ran down the clock, Podmore and Foreshaw continued to repel Stourport's attempt to get back into the game, Keeper Tom Allsopp not having a save of note to make. Darlaston saw out the last 15 minutes with some excellent game management and could have added a third near the end.

Darlaston boss Dean Gill reflected "Following two superb team performances and 4-0 wins against good quality opposition in 3 days, I did not think I could be any prouder of my players. I was wrong! Make no mistake, Stourport are a fabulous well managed team and club. They had only lost once at home in the league all season and unlike us they did not have a game on bank Holiday Monday. Despite that I cannot recall our keeper having a save of note to make and I thought our back four were first class today. My only minor criticism is that we didn't make as many chances as we have done in the past few games and whilst we had plenty of possession, we did not trouble their keeper as often as I would have liked. However, they did not look like scoring, and once we scored in the first minute of the second half, we relaxed more and played some lovely stuff. Our work rate tonight was immense, and this sometimes overshadows the quality of our play. It shouldn't !. Some of our play tonight, quality of pass, courage on the ball, ball retention and movement off the ball was a delight to watch.

Once again, our away support was superb, and I am really hoping for a good crowd on Saturday when we entertain second placed Lichfield. We are in a rich vein of form, and they have won 6 and drawn one of their last 7 league games and are still in with a live chance of the title, so it should be an absolute cracker".