Yesterday’s saw Darlaston Town (1874) take on newly promoted Allscott in front of the seasons best ground crowd of 173 at The Paycare Ground on Non-League Day.

Manager Parkes was forced into changes once again due to Injury and availability from last weeks game against Gornal Athletic. The defensive unit suffering the most, Liam Cox, Ryan McAllister, Martin Stanton, Seweryn Brzostowski and new signing Kieran Payne were all unavailable. Ant Follows is still recovering from an ankle knock. Scott Broadway declared himself fit following his injury last week against Gornal.
The match started at a frenetic pace from both sides who had chances in the first four both of which way off target. Allscott left back Griffiths a shot from distance which Morris saved easily and a Hayden Hughes header smacked into the post.

On 7 minutes Darlaston took the lead with a fine Hayden Hughes finish from 12 yards his seventh goal of the season after being put in by Scott Broadway. Following the goal Darlaston had a sustained period of pressure which they failed to convert any other chances Tyrone Clarke forcing young keeper Hopkins into a save low to his left, and Ashley Justin header just cleared the bar.

Allscott midfield of Evans, McIntosh and Scragg worked hard to gain a foothold in the game, when they managed to feed their pacey young wide players Parker and McLean, Darlaston’s defence was put under pressure. But despite Allscott’s best efforts only half chances were created for Wilkinson McLean Parker and Griffiths which were easily saved by keeper Morris or off target. Allscott’s centre forward Christian Wilkinson should have done better with his team’s best chances of the half blazing one over after 17 mins and giving Aaron Morris and easy save on 42 minutes.

Darlaston also created half chances in the remainder of the first half Broadway blazing over on two occasions and a third which went out of play closer to the half way line than the goal. Although Broadway did force Hopkins into action again following a snapshot from 15 years after 38 minutes, but Hughes and Clarke also spurned chances. As both teams went into the halftime interval the score line could have been so much better if forwards had been more composed in front of goal.

Darlaston started the second half much better, however Captain Richards was booked for an innocuous challenge just inside Darlaston’s half on Allscott’s Jay Evans after 50 mins. Darlaston put real pressure on the visitor’s defence forcing several corners in the first 15 minutes of the half, Hughes and a Lucas Hough free kick easily dealt with by young Hopkins. The game saw its second booking of the game Allscott’s centre half and kingpin Jorge Gomes received a yellow card for continual fouling on 62

On 63 minutes Scott Broadway doubled Darlaston’s lead with his tenth of the season, a Sam Giles effort was blocked, Broadway reacted the quickest when the ball looped over Allscott’s static defence. Darlaston’s three-man defence of Charlton, Justin and Hough dealt with the threat of Scragg, Parker and McLean well during the second half, although Darlaston suffered a scare as Parker was felled by a Hough challenge just inside the Darlaston penalty area on 76 minutes, but fortunately referee Hale waived play on.

Allscott in an effort to try and get something from the game made three substitutions in seven minutes removing the dangerous McLean and Wilkinson from match and putting centre half Gomes up-front. Darlaston’s defence must have been pleased, because Allscott’s changes had the opposite effect, because they lost their shape, making it easy for Darlaston to see out the game.

Allscott’s only effort of note of the half came on 89 minutes, a superb free-kick from Jay Evans from 25 yards saw Darlaston keeper Morris somehow claw the ball from his top right-hand corner out for a corner.

The Seasons best crowd at The Paycare Ground of 173 were sent home happy after Darlaston Town (1874) added another three points to their total, ensuring that they remain in third position for another week.

Darlaston’s next game sees the long journey to visit Bromyard Town next Saturday 14th of October kick off 3 p.m.