Following two excellent wins and performances at Shawbury and Pershore Town. Darlaston travelled to Shropshire hoping to make it 9 points from 9 against lowly Wem Town who had taken just one point in their last 10 games. Whilst Wem have improved significantly recently Darlaston still looked to consolidate their position in the top four of the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division.

Their task was not made any easier with Wilson, Clarke O'Connell, Blackham, Holder, Heal, Agyemang and Graham all unavailable for various reasons, Manager Andy Parkes was forced into several enforced positional changes with Connor Fellows and Lucas Hough at centre half and Liam Smith in midfield alongside debutant Dammarane Sinclair and Leon Taylor ploughing a lone furrow up front.

Unfortunately the changes created a disjointed performance against a lively Wem side whose performance and work rate belied their lowly position.

Wem made the better start Darlaston surrendering possession far too easily, forcing long range passes when simple 5-10 yard passes were available. The visitors were made to pay in the 11th minute as Fellows looked to usher the ball out for a goal kick the hard working Dan Cohen
forced the defender to concede a needless corner. Josh gamble's right wing corner was met by Dave Walbyoff who rose unchallenged at the back post to open the scoring.

The goal gave the home side immense confidence and despite their lowly position the quality of their football was impressive with Dan Cohen and James Astley causing the disjointed Darlaston defence all the problems they could handle.

Cohen and Astley forced saves from Darlaston keeper Liam Whittaker, Cohen then rattled the inside of the post and was just inches away from doubling Wem’s lead. Darlaston’s only chance of note in opening 20 minutes ended with Isaac Cooper smashing the ball against Wem’s right hand post from 18 yards.

As Darlaston looked to ease themselves into the game hesitancy at the heart of the defence saw Cohen nip into round keeper Whittaker and slot home the easiest of goals from 10 yards. As both teams entered the halftime break Darlaston needed to find some inspiration early in the second half to get back into the game as the next goal would go a long way to deciding the game.

Darlaston were all at sixes and sevens with only Taylor and Cooper looking threatening but any progressive moves broke down quickly with sloppy passing and poor decision making .Wem were fully deserving of their interval lead and again poor defensive play gave the visitors their third goal on 49 minutes. Yet another poor defensive clearance was pounced upon by James Astley who converted in style. Wem's confidence was now sky high whilst Darlaston simply could not get any aspect of their play right. They were a shadow of the side that had performed so well in their last 3 games.

The visitors did have a glorious chance to pull a goal back but debutant Sinclair snatched at his shot from 18 yards with only keeper James Rehan to beat. Walybyoff and Callum Briscoe both had half chances saved by Whittaker but Darlaston still looked second best with chances few and far between.

Darlaston boss Andy Parkes introduced Reis Nadat at the expense of Fellows and changed formation which made an immediate impact. The changes gave Darlaston a lifeline on 60 minutes when Leon Taylor scored a towering header from 10 yards converting an Luke Charlton cross.
For the first time in the game Darlaston showed a degree of urgency and made it 3-2 six minutes later. Sinclair burst into the penalty area only to be felled by a clumsy challenge by Rhys Mellings .Cooper stepped up to smash the ball home from the penalty spot.

With 24 minutes remaining and Darlaston now briefly in the ascendancy the chances of an unbelievable comeback was now possible. Luke Charlton drove inches wide from 22 yards and an equaliser looked on the cards until on 74 minutes Darlaston contrived to shoot themselves in the foot once again.

A needless free kick was conceded in midfield, the resulting free kick skimmed off the head of Ricardo Ricketts, past Whittaker to restore Wem's 2 goal lead.

On 89 minutes a bizarre refereeing decision denied Darlaston a penalty as Taylor turned Mellings, and with the goal at Taylor's mercy, Mellings tripped Taylor only for the referee to wave play on.

With a minute of added time remaining Isaac Cooper reduced the arrears with an emphatic left foot finish.

Darlaston got exactly what they deserved- nothing. Wem gave themselves a lifeline near the foot of the table and fully deserved the 3 points.

Next Saturday Darlaston return to the Paycare Ground kickoff 3.00pm when they entertain Smethwick Rangers.