Darlaston Town faced a difficult task against in form and confident Sutton Coldfield Town unbeaten in 9 league games, their only league defeat coming on the opening day of the season at current unbeaten league leaders Quorn.

Boss Dean Gill made two changes from the side that beat Shepshed Dynamo seven days earlier, Joel Shambrook unavailable and Kieran Cook reverting to the bench, Aaron Bishop and Rivel Mardenborough returning to the starting line-up.

Sutton made a bright start, keeper James Storer making a comfortable early save from Owen Parry.

The home side took the lead on 5 minutes. A quickly taken throw in by Jack Downing to Tyler Bruck caught the visitors flat footed, Bruck's right wing cross turned home by Mardenborough from close range.

As you would expect from a top side Sutton responded superbly. Former Alvechurch and Bromsgrove Sporting midfielder Charlie Dowd pulling the strings with Parry and Tom Hurley up front making some excellent runs trying to unsettle the home team's back four. The with Ben Podmore and Alex Foreshaw at the centre stood firm allowing full backs Jack Downing and Harry Chesterton the opportunity to fulfil their defensive duties but also make strong forward runs.

A long-range effort from full back Luke McGinnell went wide before Sutton's equaliser came on 18 minutes. A rare mistake by Podmore allowed the ball to slip under his foot, Korey Burke laid it off to Hurley who superbly curled the ball into the top left-hand corner giving keeper Storer no chance.

The work rate of both sides was superb, Winwood, Gill and Rowland in midfield for Darlaston, Collins, Hurley and Dowd for the visitors chasing and harrying every ball as both sides battled for supremacy. Neither succeeded. Sutton had the edge in possession as the first half drew to a close, neither side creating any further clear-cut chances.

The teams entered the half time break all square, probably a fair reflection on the game and chances created.

The opening stages of the second half saw both sides cancel each other out. Pedro Lima and skipper James Beresford majestic at the heart of the Sutton defence.

Neither side created a chance of note and whilst the quality of the football was excellent, the game needed an injection and that arrived on 71 minutes. Kieran Cook replacing Lewis Gill for the home side. Cook immediately made his presence felt and within five minutes had put his side ahead.

A superb move involving Foreshaw, Downing and Pearson resulted in Pearson arrowing an excellent pass into the path of Mardenborough who outpaced his defender. Unfortunately for the visitors the impeccable Beresford slipped in the box allowing Cook to pick up Mardenborough's cross and curl the ball into keeper Wren's net from 6 yards.

As Sutton pushed forward for the equaliser Burke's 4-yard effort was cleared off the line by Chesterton and Sutton Coldfield full back McGinnell perhaps a little fortunate to only see yellow for a rugby tackle on Pearson. Keeper Wren came forward several times for corners and dead ball situations in a desperate effort to help get the equaliser, but it was the home side who eventually settled the game with another high-quality goal in stoppage time.

Keeper Wren came some 35 yards from his goal to pump the ball back into the Darlaston penalty area, the home defence cleared the ball to Cook and with Wren still retreating into his goal, cook floated in a sublime 50-yard chip over the keeper into the net to send his teammates and bulk of the large crowd into raptures.

Immediately after the game boss Dean Gill reflected " I watched Sutton in midweek, and they were the best side I had seen. I know their manager Cam (Cameron Stuart) well and he is a top man who has played and managed at this level for 20 years or so. He knows his stuff and is a top manager with a top side. They are very strong in every department, have top quality players, are well organised and Cam has them set up superbly. They were unbeaten in the league since the opening day, so today was a true test of exactly how far we have come this season. We passed that test with flying colours today.

For large periods of the game, we cancelled each other out. Our work rate was phenomenal, and I thought Alex (Foreshaw) was back at his best today against a very lively and talented front two. Chances were hard to come by and you simply had to take them when they arrived. We did that today and that was the main difference between the teams. To have a player like Cookie (Kieran Cook) come off your bench gives everyone a boost and his second goal was typical of him, he was probably the only player in our team that would be so audacious to try it.

The atmosphere today was fantastic. Our supporters turned up in good numbers today and I thought they were great; they really played a part in that win. I am sure they enjoyed themselves today and we have to cherish days like this when we beat a very good side who I believe will make the play offs. The reception I and my players received at the end of the game was joyous to hear and see."