Darlaston finished their first ever home Step 4 campaign with a hard-fought draw against local rivals Sporting Khalsa. The result means Darlaston will finish a very creditable 7th whilst Khalsa miss out by a narrow margin on a playoff spot.

A season's best league crowd of 248 witnessed an excellent game of football, neither side giving an inch, and both sides playing some quality football in spells.

Khalsa had the better of the opening exchanges Andre Landell and James McGrady impressing up front whilst for the home side Ben Podmore was his usual reliable self, with Ryan Winwood solid in midfield. Neither keeper was brought into significant action, defences on top with some excellent block tackles and fine defensive work.

With the weather affecting the quality of play chances were few and far between. Landell having two half chances for Khalsa whilst Kieran Cook brought a fine save from Ganley in the visitors goal.

Khalsa just had the edge in the opening 45 minutes with the half ending goalless.

The second half was equally as competitive, both sides cheered on by boisterous support. Chances remained scarce until the 52nd minute when a misplaced header in Darlaston’s midfield saw substitute Marselia break clear, beat a defender and slot beyond keeper Stan Amos to give the visitors the lead.

The game was now, for a spell at least, being played in bright sunshine, both teams playing neat attacking football, good chances though remained scarce, with both sets of strikers struggling to pierce solid defensive lines.

Khalsa had shouts for a penalty on 72 minutes, the referee waiving aside the appeals. In the aftermath Chay Tilt was sent off, presumably for remarks made to the referee.

The game remained on a knife edge. Khalsa, desperate to maintain their lead to keep their play-off hopes alive whilst Darlaston sought to take advantage of Tilt's dismissal as they went in search of the equaliser.

Darlaston were indebted to keeper Amos, pulling off a fine one handed save low to his left to palm away a McGrady free kick. As the weather conditions worsened, the game now being played in a swirling wind as the rain lashed down, the quality of football seen for the opening 75 minutes dropped a little. Darlaston's Hayden Carson picked up a nasty injury as he chased an excellent Jack Downing pass, keeper Ganley bravely denying the midfielder who picked up an injury for his troubles.

The game looked to be going Khalsa's way as the final minutes approached, but Darlaston were not to be denied a share of the spoils. Ryan Winwood and Seb Pearsall combined, for Pearsall to set up central defender Alex Foreshaw 15 yards out, Foreshaw's shot blocked by a Khalsa defender for a corner. Winwood's left-wing corner was met with a powerful Foreshaw header which needed a goal line header to stop a certain goal the header rebounded off the cross bar for Kieran Cook to head home the equaliser from 2 yards.

Deep into injury time, Khalsa were reduced to 9 men, when Cobourne appeared to tread on Darlaston substitute Harry Chesterton.

A typical local derby with no quarter given, plenty of passion and hard work supplemented by quality and endeavour by both sides. A draw, a fair result on the balance of play and clear chances created.