Darlaston Town picked up their first ever point in Step 4 football in an enthralling goalless draw at the impressive Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena. Despite the lack of goals both teams were quite superb on the night, entertaining the crowd in a full blooded, never say die game, played in an excellent spirit.

Boss Dean Gill made just one change that beat Lye Town in the Emirates FA Cup three days earlier, Lewis Gill replacing the unavailable Ryan Winwood.

Both sides made a bright start, the quality of football was impressive, and the pace and ebb and flow of the game was superb. Ex Walsall player and Alvechurch loanee Shay Willock impressed up front for Sphinx with Andre Williams and Stanley Dube looking sharp and direct on both flanks. Half chances fell to Darlaston's Rivel Mardenborough and Kieran Miller, but a well organised Sphinx defence cleared the danger.

The Sphinx central defensive partnership of Jack Downes and Jamie Draper were kept busy as Miller and Aaron Bishop both had half chances without quite having a clear chance to shoot.

the best chance of the half and the game fell to Bishop who created a superb opportunity for himself as he beat his marker and with former Tamworth keeper Keelan Fellows racing off his line, Bishop cooly lobbed the keeper. It looked a goal all the way, but agonisingly the ball hit the underside of the bar, Mardenborough just failing to get a clean strike on the rebound, Sphinx eventually clearing the danger.

The second half was as enthralling as the opening 45 minutes, both teams playing superb football without quite having a clear chance to win the game. Sphinx Kyle Carey started to impose himself in midfield whilst for the visitors James Rowland made numerous runs down the left flank, but again his crosses came to no avail.

Willock continued to cause plenty of problems for the Darlaston defence, Ben Podmore and Alex Foreshaw sublime for the visitors repelling the threat.

Callum Woodward headed inches over for Sphinx with Podmore heading a Rowland corner inches wide. Sphinx best chance of the game came late on and Darlaston were indebted to keeper James Storer who pulled off an excellent double save, firstly saving bravely at the feet of Willock, quickly regaining his position to dive on the loose ball to ensure his goal remained intact.

There was a special moment on 85 minutes when striker Andy Nicol came off the bench to make a cameo appearance after suffering his devastating injury against Wednesfield 27 months earlier in the Birmingham FA Midweek Cup Final.

After the game Darlaston boss Dean Gill reflected- "What a fantastic evening, it was a joy to be part of it. The Sphinx management team were brilliant with us from the moment we arrived as was the Sphinx committee and volunteers. The game was a pleasure to watch, and I am sure both sets of fans and the neutrals in the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the game, I know I did.

Both sides worked tirelessly with some excellent individual performances for both teams.

There were numerous positives for us tonight, too many to mention them all, but two are worthy of a special mention. Firstly, we again made a little bit of our own history tonight, with our first point in the Northern Premier League and secondly, just as satisfying was to see Andy Nicol playing football again. I am absolutely delighted for him.

Oh yes, back to the game, I thought a draw was about right, no team or player deserved to be on the losing side tonight."