Darlaston Town return to action tomorrow at The Paycare Stadium when they welcome Coventry Sphinx for their penultimate home game of the league season.

Tomorrow’s opponents have had a difficult season and are currently in 17th place having won nine of their thirty-seven games, drawn twelve and lost sixteen, therefore they are the leagues draw specialists, accumulating 39 points. The Sphinx were promoted as champions of the United Counties Premier Division the season before last. Last season their first ever one at step 4 saw a 16th place finish.

The clubs met earlier on in the season on a Tuesday evening in August, the teams could not be separated and for the first time in many years a Darlaston game finished 0-0, despite both teams having good chances.

Recent form has seen The Sphinx win one of their last six games, drawing two and losing three. The run started with a home defeat against relegation threatened Rugby Town, followed by a second consecutive loss at play-off chasing Worcester City. Coventry’s win came in a mid-week fixture over now relegated Grantham Town who Darlaston travel to next Saturday.

Two consecutive draws followed 2-2 against Loughborough Students at home and a trip to Lye Town saw a 0-0 result. Last Saturday The Sphinx lost 1-0 at home to mid-table Hinckley LR and this after Hinckley had a player sent off.

Top scorer for Coventry is Kyle Carey with ten goals, but Carey has not played a game for the club since January, followed by Iddriss Fuseini with 5 along with Rowan Newey and expired on-loan forward from Alvechurch Shey Willock who was sent off for the club in his final league game against Coleshill Town.

Darlaston meanwhile have had a ten day break since their 2-0 loss at Anstey Nomads, and they still have a slim mathematical chance of making the play-offs after Worcester City drew against Bedworth United and last Saturday, they lost 3-1 at AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Manager Dean Gill and his Management Team have stressed to the squad the season is not over and they will be sure to be giving maximum effort in the final remaining games, not only to keep play-off hopes alive but the players will want to secure a start in the Walsall Senior Cup Final on 13th May 2025.

Darlaston’s squad tomorrow does have some availability and injury issues, so manager Dean Gill will need to select his starting line-up very very carefully.

As usual kick-off is 3.00 p.m.

Gates and bar open at 1.00 p.m. with the bar serving its usual pre-match hot food.

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

Programme: £2.00

Cash and card payments accepted both on the gate in the ground.

The club has asked the community of Darlaston and Bentley to come and support the club this season and that support is now desperately needed to ensure that we make the best of our opportunity of trying to qualify for the play-offs.