Darlaston made it 16 points from 18, cementing their 3rd placed position with a comfortable 5 goal victory against a hardworking and resolute Telford Juniors.

Manager Andy Parkes made an enforced change to the line-up which beat Bromyard Town the previous week, Sam Giles was unavailable, so Scott Broadway returned to the starting line-up.

Following torrential rain during the week the pitch was again heavy and not conducive to free flowing football despite the efforts of Gil Preece and his team. Despite this both teams played a passing game and did not resort to the long ball game, a credit to both teams.

Darlaston started the match at a whirlwind pace, looking to get behind Telford’s back line at every opportunity with Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell and Scott Broadway making excellent runs into spaces behind the visitor’s full backs. In the early stages Telford were on the back foot as the home side forced four corners in the first 10 minutes, having three shots blocked by the overworked Telford Juniors defence. Clarke O'Connell, Broadway, Leon Taylor and Lucas Hough all failing to open the scoring when well placed. The deadlock was finally broken on 11 minutes full back Ryan Jones played in Clarke-O’Connell who superbly cut inside his defender before cutting in from the left to neatly curl a right foot 16-yard drive into the top corner of Telford’s goal giving keeper Delamere no chance.

Darlaston had Ashley Justin to thank a minute later with a last-ditch tackle on Telford’s Patrick Udah just as he was running through clear on goal with just Morris to beat. This proved to be a rare chance for the visitors. Danger man Clarke-O’Connell was at it again in the 16th minute forcing Telford’s keeper Delamere into a fine double save with goal bound efforts.

The home team were in total charge but could not make their superiority pay by converting chances into goals. Frustration grew and Darlaston started to force passes, making poor decisions and passes when more composure on the ball was needed.

Further chances fell to Broadway and Justin, but resolute defending ensured the score line remained 1-0 all blocked by the visitor’s defence. Further chances went begging before the home side eventually doubled their led from the penalty spot on 33 minutes. Telford Juniors impressive centre-half Louis Jones sent Leon Taylor tumbling after a sliding challenge, Jones also receiving a yellow card from Referee Prescott. In the absence of regular penalty taker Sam Giles, Lucas Hough stepped up to confidently score from 12 yards. The remainder of the half saw neither side create any clear-cut chances Luke Dent for the visitors having a shot blocked by home skipper Ryan McAllister and Broadway shooting wide for the home side.

As usual at The Paycare Ground a goal early in the second half seems to be the order of the day and this week it was Darlaston who were again on the scoresheet. Leon Taylor benefited from another Clarke-O’Connell cross from the left in the 49th minute scoring with a 6 yard header after out-jumping Telford’s Ebrima Jallow.

The game was effectively over as a contest on 63 minutes, Taylor netting his second goal of the game from a yard out, capitalising on some excellent approach play between Clarke-O’Connell and Luke Charlton whose cross took a deflection into the path of Taylor who had the simple task of tapping home with keeper Delamere stranded

Darlaston were in total charge, allowing Manager Parkes to leave his more experienced players on the bench giving a League debut to Nick Lewis and bringing on 16-year-old Sam Lynex and 18-year-old Mason Hodgson.

In the final minute Darlaston’s afternoon was completed when they were awarded their second penalty following an off the ball incident between Telford’s Jordan Sankey and Darlaston’s Scott Broadway. Sankey kicked out at Broadway as a free kick was delivered from just outside the penalty area. Referee Jack Prescott pointed to the spot and also sent off Sankey after giving him his second yellow card of the game. Top scorer Broadway took the penalty smashing it straight down the middle giving Darlaston a 5-0 win.

Despite the score line Louis Jones was a colossus at the heart of the Telford defence , Patrick Udah and Ebrima Jallow proved a handful at times and the visitors never gave up, just on the day Darlaston were too strong.

This Saturday Darlaston make the short journey to Long Lane, Essington hoping to extend their unbeaten league run to 7 games against Wyrley KO 2.00pm.