Saturday saw the return of football to The Paycare Ground after the recent bad weather and postponements. Darlaston Town (1874) entertained fourth placed Team Dudley in Division One of the West Midlands (Regional) League. Manager Andy Parkes once again made to changes to his starting line-up from the win at Telford juniors, Ryan Jones replacing the unavailable Ashley Justin for his League debut and the welcome return from injury for Dave Richards who replaced James Filkins.

Darlaston Town (1874) had guests Tipton Youth Lions U 11’s acting as mascots leading both teams out. Right from the off Team Dudley took hold of the game, Darlaston seemed to have left their energy in the changing rooms they were lethargic, way off the pace, unable to close down their guests giving Team Dudley far too much space and time on the ball. Jake Taylor having two efforts on goal after six and eight minutes and Alex Pinches on 15.

Darlaston did not last out for much longer, one minute later Team Dudley took the lead a ball from the left found centre-forward Jake Taylor who laid the ball off to Lee Clarke who finished with a low shot just inside Darlaston keepers Aaron Morris right hand post 1 nil to the visitors. let alone string two or three passages together at passes together. Team Dudley had further efforts

Team Dudley were now in total charge Darlaston finding it very difficult to get out of their own half and playing really deep allowing efforts on goal from Mark Lawrence, Mitchell Blackham, James Hawthorne and Alex Pinches. Darlaston’s only answer was a second Hayden Hughes effort that cleared the bar as did his first.

Following a rare Darlaston attack Team Dudley’s keeper Josh Rogers drop kicked the ball, which was flicked on unchallenged into the path of forward Alex Pinches, who lobbed Aaron Morris from 35 yards giving Team Dudley a two-goal lead.

Darlaston manager Andy Parkes and his coaches were trying their utmost to try and wake up the lack lustre Darlaston players. After Darlaston’s best passage of play in the half, Sam Giles and Leon following good work on 38 minutes on the right hand side good link pay between Sam Giles and Leon Taylor saw Giles advancing into the right hand side of the Team Dudley penalty area where a reverse pass found right back for the day Martin Stanton who scored putting the ball between Josh Rogers legs.

Darlaston woke up after the goal and finished the half well the better of the two teams a further effort from Hayden Hughes which was saved by Team Dudley’s keeper. Now manager Parkes need to deliver one of his inspirational half-time team talks again, if Darlaston were to get anything from todays game.

Lee Mills Team Dudley’s manager was the opposite he would have been pleased with his teams first half performance and the 2-1 lead was more than justified.

The team talk must've been delivered because Darlaston had to efforts on goal in the 46th and 50th minutes. On 54 minutes Darlaston levelled the game Tyrone Clarke tied Josh Lemm in knots and beat him all ends up finding Hayden Hughes just outside the 6-yard box, Hayden laid it into the path of Liam Taylor who found the Back of Team Dudley’s net from 14 yards.

Team Dudley responded straight away, they had no intention of letting Darlaston have all of their own way. Efforts the visitors most dangerous player Alex Pinches putting pressure on the Darlaston goal after 56 and 59 minutes. Back came Darlaston a narrow miss from a cross shot from Sam Giles and a Leon Taylor header grazed the post.

Darlaston supporters did not have to wait too long for them to take the lead on 66 minutes a Sam Giles corner was met by an unmarked Martin Stanton to head home for his second of the game and to give Darlaston 3-2 a lead.

Darlaston’s lead with short lived and 5 after 71 mins a carbon copy of Darlaston’s last goal was scored by team Dudley left sided corner was floated in and Mitchell Blackham again stolen at the back post unmarked to head home to level the scores as the game was reaching it's closing stages dollar store in the ascendancy with Scott Broadway who came on as a substitute for Hayden Hughes how to efforts on goal and Leon Taylor narrowly missed the target.

The game finished in a 3-3 or draw, on reflection probably a fair result for both sides but Darlaston once again abject first half performance is costing them dearly week in week out. It would be nice to see a 90-minute performance next week when Darlaston travel to Worcester Raiders on Saturday the 30th of December kick off 2 p.m.

May I take this opportunity on behalf of the Darlaston Town (1874) Director’s Committee Members and volunteers to wish all of Darlaston towns supporters their families and friends a very Happy Christmas thank and thank them and thank you all for your support so far, this season and let's hope we all have a very prosperous New Year