Darlaston made the long trip up the M6 to Cheshire to face an in form, high riding Runcorn Linnets side who have lost just twice in the League all season and had lost once in their last six league games.

At the impressive Apec Taxis Stadium a crowd of 539 were treated to a superb performance from the home side against a young Darlaston side who despite the heavy loss will learn an awful lot about the League from this game. The quality of play, movement off the ball, quality of pass and pace of a very impressive Runcorn side, was a delight and Darlaston players will learn an awful lot of lessons from the game.

From the opening moments, It was clear to see why Linnets were enjoying a superb season their ball retention was excellent and Crane a handful up front. Linnets opened the scoring on 4 minutes. A cross field pass by Adam Rooney found full back Matty Rain whose precision pass into the box opened up the Darlaston defence for Lewis Crane to nip in and toe poke beyond advancing keeper Stan Amos.

Linnets were enjoying periods of possession without creating any further clear chances. At the other end Darlaston were unable to penetrate a well organised powerful home defence.

The second goal came on 33 minutes. Full back Joe Ferguson picked up a loose ball just inside the Darlaston half, laid it off to Lewis Doyle but continued his run to pick up a superb flicked pass from Doyle, before making his way into the penalty area and lob the ball beyond the advancing keeper Amos.

Three minutes before half time the game was as good as over. A rare mistake by keeper Amos saw an Eden Gumbs shot from the edge of the box slip through his hands and trickle over the line for the Linnets third goal.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Darlaston start brightly. Substitutes Kieron Berry and Jack Downing added a bit more pace and aggression to the midfield and front line, but Linnets retained their composure, continuing to look impressive, their quality of play evident throughout.

The quality of three consecutive corners caused difficulties in the visitors defence before they eventually managed to clear the danger. Despite dominating possession Linnets failed to create any clear chances in the opening twenty minutes of the half. Indeed it was Darlaston who got the next goal giving themselves a lifeline back into the game on 68 minutes.

Just inside the Linnets half, Knowles won a header before laying it off to Jake Pearson who exchanged passes with Jake Collins, before Collins hit a right foot shot from 22 yards, hard and low off the post into keeper hall's bottom right hand corner.

The hope of any dramatic comeback evaporated within two minutes. The impressive Joe Ferguson ran fully 60 yards into the Darlaston area before unleashing a powerful drive into the far right hand corner of the net.

Runcorn managed the finally 20 minutes professionally and could have added to their tally eventually running out confident winners.

Linnets are without question the best side Darlaston have faced in their 54 games at Step 4 over the last two seasons, including last season's runaway Midland Division Champions Quorn who are now riding high in the Southern League premier Division.