Darlaston return to the Paycare Stadium for a Northern Premier League Midland Division fixture against first time visitors Wellingborough Town.

The Citizens were looking to break their record of three consecutive home draws at against another team pushing for a promotion place. Manager Dean Gill retained the starting lineup that performed so well at Sutton Coldfield Town last week securing a 1-0 win. The only change was on the bench Jack Downing dropping out of the match day squad to be replaced by Mitch Botfield.

The game did not start well for the home side Lewis Gill was booked in the 3rd minute for the first tackle of the game and will now miss two games through suspension.

Whilst both sides were looking to get some forward momentum Gill was mistakenly accused of another tackle and issued a final warning by the match referee forcing Darlaston’s management team into making a change in the 21st minute withdrawing him from the game to be replaced by Mitch Botfield.

The first half was a scrappy affair neither team taking charge for any period of time, defences were certainly on top, Darlaston’s back five were secure whereas The Doughboy’s two central defenders Stainfield and O’Connor controlled everything in the air.

The first real chance of the game came midway through the first half Wellingborough skipper Jack O’Connor was unmarked at the far post and his powerful header forced an excellent reflex save from Stan Amos at his near post, shortly afterwards the home side were in front.

Just before the half time interval, Darlaston had the best spell of the half, after been driven forward by the probing of midfielders Mitch Botfield and James Rowland. Rowlands dangers cross from the left seemed to cause chaos in the visitors defence, both the keeper and defender allowed the ball to pass between them presenting the easiest of chances for top scorer Aaron Bishop who made no mistake from three years out by passing the ball into an empty net to give Darlaston fans course for celebration just before the halftime interval.

Both management teams made substitutions at the start of the second half hoping to give their respective teams some impetus and domination in the second half instead of it being a midfield and defensive battle.

Darlaston certainly took the game to the visitors for the first 10 minutes of the second half but could not break through the resolute Wellingborough defence, the best chance saw a header across the six yard box from Botfield just evade the onrushing Bishop and subsite Mardenborough.

As the half went on Wellingborough gained control of the midfield areas putting Darlaston under pressure forcing Stan Amos into making three excellent saves to keep the home side in front.

Despite the match officials making some strange decisions that affected both teams, at times both benches voiced their frustration at the match official’s performance.

Darlaston held out until the 82nd minute when once again they conceded a second half goal to bring the scores level. A mixup on a quick break between two Darlaston players in the middle of the park allowed Wellingborough’s Richard-Noel to break, his left sided pull back was right in the path of on rushing substitute Tyler Winters who scored from 6 yards with a powerful finish past the stranded Amos.

Both sides tried to secure the win in the latter stages of the game Neither side could breach the respective defences, and the game ended 1-1.

Darlaston’s next fixture is another key league game on Tuesday evening when they travel to Worcester City. It is hopeful that’s many of the clubs’ supporters will make the trip down the M6 and M5 to Worcester to support The Citizens in such an important fixture for both teams who drew yesterday. Details of the game will be published tomorrow.