After a hugely successful night on Wednesday when Darlaston progressed to the semi-final of the Walsall Senior Cup, tomorrow afternoon the club returns to Northern Premier League action when we welcome Loughborough Students to the Paycare Stadium for the first time.

The Students are in an excellent run of form that has seen them lose once to fast charging Wellingborough Town in their last nine league games winning five and drawing three. The run has moved the Students from a relegation place into 13th and after twenty-five games they have won nine, drawn five and lost eleven and are 13 points above the relegation places.

The excellent run has seen them chalk up big wins over promotion chasing teams in recent weeks including Sporting Khalsa, Long Eaton United, Corby Town along with mid-table sides Coleshill Town and Grantham Town. The three draws were against relegation threated teams such as AFC Rushden and on Tuesday evening Rugby Town, and last year’s runners up Anstey Nomads.

During the nine game run forward Halim Bangura who has scored five times placing him third in the Loughborough Students goal scorer list, led by Quinton-Zolani Diodlo who has scored ten times this season, followed by Joshua Strouts on six.

The clubs met at the end of September on a lovely sunny warm afternoon, Darlaston took the points with a 3-0 win with goals from Ben Podmore, James Roland and Aaron Bishop.

Tomorrow is another prime example as to how hard football is in this division. There are no easy games, and every game has to be played to the best of any team’s ability to get anything from the fixture.

Darlaston returned to action with another tremendous performance on Wednesday evening under the lights of The Paycare Stadium beating in form Hednesford Town on penalties after the game finished 2-2, Darlaston coming back twice from being behind, with goals from Revel Mardenborough and an own goal from Hednesford’s centre half.

Despite not playing since Boxing Day, Darlaston’s management team rested key players and of course skipper Alex Foreshaw was suspended following his sending off against Romulus in the same competition in the first round, therefore Darlaston are expected to make changes for tomorrow’s fixture. But, given the fact that several players took their chances in starting, thus giving Manager Dean Gill a selection headache for tomorrow’s important league fixture.

As always, the gates will open at 1.00 p.m. along with the bar which will be serving its usual pre-match hot and cold food.

Admission – Adults £9.00, Concessions £7.00, Under 14’s FREE

Programme - £2.00 available from the Pay Hut.
Team Sheet available in the bar pre kick-off.

As many of you will have seen, manager Dean Gill issued a rallying call for all Darlaston Town supporters old and new, as well as the local community to start supporting the club and attending first team games.

Post Covid has seen the crowds generally, with the exception of some clubs’ crowds have diminished in size almost on a yearly basis and Darlaston is no different. The club are desperate to increase their supporting fan base and to entice or ask any Darlaston Town supporters to come and join in and take part in what is, without any doubt, the clubs most successful footballing period since its inception in 1874, 151 years ago.

So, as always, we would ask what the club regards as its core supporters, to bring friends, family, acquaintances, work colleagues, neighbours to tomorrow afternoon’s game to see if they can enjoy the Darlo experience and keep coming back for more.