At a rain swept Paycare Ground Darlaston Town (1874) extended their unbeaten start to the season to eight games with a lack lustre poor performance against a resolute and impressive Gornal Athletic.

Darlaston boss Andy Parkes made four changes from the side that beat Bustleholme 4-0 Aaron Morris Lucas Hough and Hayden Hughes returning to the starting line-up whilst Liam Cox made his full debut at centre half

The first ten minutes of the match was a scrappy affair, both sides conceding free kicks on a regular basis. On 11 minutes a bad clash of heads on the edge of the Gornal Penalty area saw Darlaston’s top scorer Scott Broadway forced to go to hospital with a nasty head injury whilst Gornal full back Glasby also suffered a similarly nasty cut to the forehead. The loss of top scorer Broadway was a significant blow for the home side as it upset the balance of the side and unsettled their style of play against a well marshalled Gornal defence.

After the incident the remainder of the half was very subdued and a dour affair, both sides struggling to create any clear-cut openings with both keepers rarely in action. Clarke O'Connell and Hough bot shot wide whilst Geoff Hill and Ben Podmore both headed wide for the visitors.

The half time team talk by home boss Parkes clearly had the desired effect as Darlaston made a bright start to the second half. two early corners came to nothing before Tyrone Clarke O'Connell's angled drive clipped the post and rebounded to safety in the 49th minute.

Clarke O'Connell and Hughes both had efforts blocked before on 58 minutes Gornal substitute Russell Brooks who had been on the pitch for just 5 minutes was sent off for a nasty scything tackle on midfielder Dave Richards. Following the sending off Gornal re-organised well and seemed to get a second wind on the counter attack the impressive Geoff Hill causing all kinds of problems to the Darlaston defence.

Whilst their play was not as fluent as in recent weeks Darlaston continued to attack but far too often passes went astray in the final third. Clarke O'Connell once again having Darlaston’s best effort a curling shot which Bennett clawed out of the top corner with a fine save.

On 66 minutes the home side had the best chance of the game. Sam Giles went on a 35-yard run leaving two defenders in his wake before sending in a right-wing cross, unfortunately there was a little too much pace on the cross and the oncoming Hayden Hughes could not find the target as he stretched to make contact from four yards.

Minutes later Hughes chased a Richards pass and although he appeared to beat keeper Bennett to the ball and score to put the home side in the lead the referee disallowed what appeared a perfectly good goal for no apparent reason. Not for the first time the referee saw something which no one else at the ground did.

Despite playing a player short Gornal remained composed and played some neat controlled football and with Hill always posing a threat the home defence needed to remain alert at all times.

Clarke O'Connell thought he had broken the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box only to be denied by a magnificent fingertip save by Gornal keeper Josh Bennett. Much to the relief of the 117 strong crowd Darlaston’s efforts were rewarded in the 79th minute Hayden Hughes latching onto a loose ball after the ball had re-bounded off the post following a Lucas Hough effort.

Following the goal, Darlaston tried to play out the rest of the match, keeping possession in midfield and trying to play in the Gornal corners. But it was not to be, following a free kick deep into injury and much to the amazement of all concerned referee Cartwright was the only person on the ground to allegedly see a push on Ben Podmore in the penalty area. Geoff Hill stepped up to dispatch the penalty high to keeper Morris' left, the first goal conceded by Darlaston in 275 minutes.

This Saturday 7thOctober is "Non-League Day" and with no Premier and Division One football Darlaston are calling upon all Wolves, WBA, Aston Villa and Birmingham City fans to pop down to The Paycare Ground and experience some good quality non-league football for a fraction of the cost of League football. With free parking, a superb colour match day programme, clubhouse a bar and beverages fans of all local football league clubs will be pleasantly surprised with what is on offer at the Paycare Ground.

Darlaston will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the season to nine games this Saturday against Allscott FC at The Paycare Ground, Bentley Leisure Pavilion, Bentley Road North, Bentley, Walsall WS2 0EA Kick Off 3.00pm.

For more photographs please click Darlaston Town (1874) vs Gornal Athletic Part 2