An opening day crowd of 137 saw Darlaston emerge with 3 points to get their 2018/19 season off to a good start. Despite the scoreline Darlaston were comfortable winners and controlled the game for long periods.

In glorious sunshine at The Paycare Ground the home side created two early chances. Firstly Danny Mayne shot wide from an acute angle and on 6 minutes debutant Daniel Bolzon came close to opening his account. Ryan Kingdon and Ryan Jones combined down the left flank, Jones sending in a superb cross which was headed over by Bolzon from 8 yards with opposition keeper Alex Rhodes well beaten.

Darlaston were controlling the pace of the game with some excellent passing moves but they lacked the cutting edge in front of goal to ease the nerves of their supporters and management team. Bolzon and Mayne were both off target as pressure mounted on the overworked Bromyard defence with Dan Tonks and Cameron Green standing resolute at the heart of the visitors defence.

Despite the pressure from the home side it was the visitors who had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 31st minute. A four man move from their own penalty area resulted in Matthew Croucher Smith finding space beyond the Darlaston the impressive striker unleashed a superb angled drive from 18 yards which was superbly tipped over the bar by debutant keeper Liam Whittaker, acrobatically diving high to his right.

Dar laston re grouped and could have taken the lead 3 minutes later. The hard working Danny Mayne chased a lost cause deep into the Bromyard half beating defender Luke Holylee to the ball, cutting inside and crossing for Bolzon who twisted his body to angle a difficult headed chance into the bottom corner but keeper Rhodes pulled off an excellent scrambling save to his right turning the ball around the post for a corner. From the resulting corner a half chance fell to Leon Taylor who hooked the half chance wide of Rhodes' left hand post.

Despite fairly constant pressure the half ended goalless.

The second half started pretty much the same as the first half with Darlaston on top . On 49 minutes following a foul on Danny Mayne by Lloyd Wager , a Ryan Jones free kick from 25 yards was fumbled by keeper Rhodes but despite a desperate attempt by Martin "Zuki" Stanton to prod the ball home, the Bromyard goal survived.

The only goal of the game arrived just 2 minutes later. The trickery and pace of Daniel Bolzon had caused the visiting defenders plenty of problems and he was the subject of several heavy challenges.Wager was guilty of such a challenge on Bolzon 22 yards out. Jones again took the free kick, crossing to the far post where Luke Charlton stole in to head home from 6 yards, much to the delight of his fellow players and the home supporters.

Following a rib injury Ryan Kingdon was substituted on 60 minutes, Connor Asbury coming on for his debut. On 65 minutes Taylor was within inches of doubling the lead just failing to convert at the far post after some good approach work by Sam Causton and Mayne.

On 66 minutes Noah Diallo became the fourth Darlaston debutant and his quality on the ball was immediately apparent as he made himself available in midfield to set up several attacking moves.

Diallo from 35 yards, Anthony Follows and Bolzon all had efforts off target as Darlaston looked to add a second goal to put the game beyond the visitors who remained competitive, continuing to look to prize open the home defence in search of the equaliser.

Josh Tolley became the 5th debutant replacing Taylor and despite a late rally by the visitors Darlaston held out comfortably for the 3 points.

Despite the close scoreline, Darlaston were generally in control and with more clinical finishing could have won the game more comfortably.

Darlaston's next game is against Bustleholme at their NEW GROUND at York Road, ROWLEY REGIS, B65 0RR. this is the former home of Oldbury United kick off is at the usual 3 pm.