SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2015
DARLASTON TOWN (1874) 4 – 1 AFC LUDLOW

A superb all round performance saw Darlaston dispatch previously unbeaten League leaders Ludlow to cement their top three place and extend their winning sequence to five games.

With three key players unavailable player manager Mark Swann brought in Josh Clifft, Ashley Walker and Ian Watkins to replace Club Captain Ryan McAllister, Dan Bell & Lucas Hough.

With Ludlow unbeaten in 13 games and Darlaston unbeaten in their last six both teams started the game in confident manner but it was Darlaston who looked more likely to score. Leon Taylor and Ty Atkinson kept the Ludlow defenders under constant pressure whilst Sam Hesson and Mark Swann won the midfield battle against counterparts Smith and Edwards.

Boasting three of the Division’s top scorers in dale Hodge, Keanu Cooper and Dan Gower the visitors always had the potential to cause a goal threat but Clifft and stand in skipper Martin Stanton easily kept them at bay.

Taylor, Swann and Atkinson all had half chance and Ludlow defender Luke Hicks was fortunate not to receive his marching orders after conceding 3 free kicks in a ten minute spell.

Despite having the better of the opening half hour Darlaston fell behind against the run of play in the 32nd minute when Ty Atkinson was dispossessed on the half way line, Ludlow seized on the error as Dan Gower broke down the left and his shot come cross shot found the unmarked Keanu Cooper at the back post to tap home from a yard out

Ludlow’s advantage however was short lived when the hosts equalised through acting captain Martin Stanton direct from the penalty spot three minutes later, after Luke Hicks had handled the ball in an attempt to clear the a Mark Swann shot.

Darlaston stepped up the tempo in the second half when substitutes John Reeves and Sam Giles were introduced on 51 & 59 minutes, with Reeves testing keeper Havard at full stretch with a powerful 20 yard on 56 minutes.

The home side were now in the ascendancy and as the game progressed their looked likely to be only one winner. Ludlow were very much on the back foot, and on 66 minutes keeper Havard was forced to fingertip a close range effect from Tyrone Atkinson over the bar following an impressive run from Leon Taylor.

The resulting corner saw defender Jack Beaumont foul Atkinson in the box and Darlaston were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon, referee Johnson - Howe immediately pointing to the spot. Substitute Sam Giles stepped up to confidently convert giving the home side a well deserved lead.

It was now one way traffic with Ludlow limited to area attacks and long range efforts which caused no trouble to keeper Ben Czerepaninec.

As the pressure mounted on the Ludlow goal Reeves and Giles both forced good saves from Havard, whilst Taylor, Atkinson and Swann all failed to convert difficult chances. Darlaston finally sealed the game in the 85th minute, after being fouled 25 yards out Sam Giles hit a superb free kick which saw keeper Havard groping at thin air as the ball rebounded off the cross bar into the path of the oncoming Leon Taylor who headed home from 5 yards into the empty net.

In 5 minutes of added time due to an injury to Ludlow defender Gavin Podmore Darlaston were awarded their third penalty of the game. Having taken the ball to the corner flag to kill time, Leon Taylor superbly slipped two defenders and outpaced with ease only to be felled in the box by Aaron Dovey. Giles stepped up to seal the visitors feat and give the scoreline an air of respectability as he claimed his second of the game shooting low to Havard’s left.

Player/manager Swann could not conceal his delight after the game -“That was the best 90 minutes we have played since I took charge. Make no mistake Ludlow are an exceptional side and on a run of 13 unbeaten games, yet me made them look very ordinary today. We were without 3 key players today but you would never have noticed as every player put in a superb shift. Josh Clifft and Martin Stanton gelled superbly at the heart of the defence whilst Ty Atkinson and Leon Taylor ran their hearts out upfront and gave the Ludlow defence all sorts of problems. Today we showed we have strength in depth in our squad and I could not be more delighted with our performance and the result. We can take confidence from this and continue to build a team that can push for a top 3 finish.”

This Saturday Darlaston are in Birmingham County FA Vase action when they entertain Coventry Alliance Premier Division side Hawkes Mill Sports at the Paycare Ground Bentley Leisure Pavilion WS2 0EA will kick off at 1.00pm.

PLEASE NOTE - The Birmingham County FA have recommended a 1.00pm Kick Off
IF the score is level after 90 minutes, then we proceed to a PENALTY SHOOT OUT - There is NO EXTRA TIME