Darlaston made the 160 mile round trip to the Dog and Duck ground in Northamptonshire for this Northern Premier League Midland Division clash. The two teams only previous meetings were some 53 years ago when they met in the West Midlands League Premier Division in 1970/71, during Wellingborough's one and only season in the league.

A crowd of 290, bolstered by a strong travelling contingent saw Wellingborough sitting in 7th spot just 3 points behind 4th placed Darlaston, come from two goals down in the final 24 minutes to ensure the game ended all square.

With skipper and influential central defender Alex Foreshaw injured, Darlaston boss was forced to rejig his back four that played against league leaders Corby Town seven days earlier. Aaron Bishop reverted to centre half whilst Ben Podmore returned at the expense of teenager Sam Smith. Tyler Bruck also returning to the starting line up.

The first half saw Darlaston turn in a superb 45 minute performance and could easily have gone into the break with more goals to their name. The quality of their play, work rate and energy was quite superb , but as against Corby Town last week they were to rue missed first half chances.

The visitors made a superb start and were ahead after 5 minutes. A sweet 40 yard crossfield pass by James Rowland found Bruck in space just outside the penalty area, the teenage striker brought the ball down with his left foot, cut inside defender Sam Warburton, before curling a superb right footed shot into keeper Adam Norths' top right hand corner.

Darlaston had much the better of the early exchanges and went in search of a second goal. Full backs Joel Shambrook and Harry Chesterton bursting down both flanks at every opportunity, creating half chances for Bruck, Rivel Mardenborough and Kieran Cook.

Former Oxford United and Mansfield Town striker Jordan Graham was impressive for the home side, holding up the ball, trying to bring his team mates into the action.

As the half progressed it only looked a matter of time before the visitors extended their lead. The second goal came on 26 minutes from the best move of the game.

Shambrook, Ryan Winwood, Lewis Gill and Chesterton combining across the width of the pitch, Chesterton broke forward exchanging passes with Bruck before bursting into the penalty area with a calm left footed finish from 10 yards.

Despite playing some neat, controlled football Wellingborough could not pierce the Darlaston defence, keeper James Storer rarely called into action, other than clearing up saves. Darlaston continued to have the better of the play with several balls from Mardenborough, Chesterton and Bruck flashing across the face of goal, Wellingborough central defenders Jack O'Connor and Lloyd Buckby, excellent at the heart of the defence with numerous interventions, blocks and tackles.

The visitors were well worthy of their two goal interval lead.

The second half started off more evenly, Wellingborough a different side to the one seen in the first half. Danny draper and Jordan Graham seeing more of the ball but still chances were few and far between.

The game turned around the hour mark, with substitutes, Jessie Obeng and Neo Richard-Noel giving the Darlaston defence plenty of problems with their pace and quality down both flanks. The two substitutes were influencing the game and Wellingborough looked far more threatening than they had done in the opening 60 minutes or so.

On 66 minutes, Wellingborough got a foothold back in the game. Obeng and Emovon combined to set up Draper to drive a shot low and hard from 20 yards beyond the outstretched right hand on keeper Storer.

The goal gave the home side plenty of confidence and they played some superb attacking football, Obeng and Emovon combining well down the left, with crosses into the Darlaston penalty area. Darlaston were fortunate on two occasions , the ball rebounding to safety off the cross bar. Despite being under pressure, the visitors remained resilient and had half chances to extend their lead courtesy of Leo Wood and Rivel Mardenborough.

An injury to central defender ben Podmore saw Darlaston finish the game without a recognised central defender. Two midfielders Bishop and Mitch Botfield were makeshift centre halves.

The quality of play from both sides was excellent but it was a poor defensive goal that led to the equaliser as the game was entering added on time. From some 25 yards out, keeper North cleared the ball some 50 yards before it bounced high over the Darlaston defence, Blowers was first to react, lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper Storer from 16 yards to give Wellingborough a share of the spoils.