A crowd of 178 were treated to a scintillating end to end game at The Paycare Ground where Darlaston took a first half lead and then came back from 3-1 down to earn a well-deserved point.

In a bizarre goalmouth scramble in the 8th minute both Zico Agyemang and Leon Taylor somehow conjured to miss close range chances as Sporting defenders Josh Small and Joe Clarke both managed to keep their goal intact.

Emile Beckford shot wide for Sporting on 14 minutes before Sporting keeper Callum Smith saved well from an Agyemang header. Darlaston took the lead on 18 minutes, central defender Liam Smith netting his first goal of the season with a back header from an Isaac Cooper long throw.

Agyemang was sent clear of the Sporting defence and with the goal at his mercy the striker failed to convert the chance, Smith racing from his line to deny the striker as Agyemang shot, Smith saved with his legs.

For Sporting Campbell Justice brought a save from home keeper Connor Hopkins before Jayden Ward shot over the bar.

With Darlaston temporarily reduced to 10 men as Aiden Blackham spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for dissent, Sporting had half chances through Beckford who forced Hopkins in to a parried save into the path of Attoumani but Attoumani's shot was blocked by a Lucas Hough tackle.

Taylor had a chance to double the home side's lead on 35 minutes but he could not direct his header on target following a Cooper corner.

Sporting started the second half in fine fashion. Kayden Ward had been quiet for most of the first half but for the first 20 minutes of the second half the young winger was superb as he caused havoc in the home defence. On 46 minutes he brought a good save from Hopkins and then played a major role in the equaliser on 51 minutes.

Ward broke into the penalty area and was adjudged to have been impeded by Luke Wilson. The resultant penalty was easily converted by Soms Simbanda. Ward was again at the heart of another Sporting attack in the 56th minute to put the visitors ahead. Darlaston failed on 3 occasions to clear as Ward pounced on a poor clearance to drive the ball beyond Hopkins.

Darlaston were rocked by the two early second half goals and were a little disjointed as Sporting were on top. Sporting added a third on 63 minutes a poor cross by Campbell was deflected into his own net by the head of Lucas Hough flat footing Hopkins giving the keeper no chance.

Despite these setbacks, Darlaston's fighting spirit came to the fore and they deservedly got back into the game on 65 minutes. Taylor had been a thorn in the side of the Sporting defence all afternoon and was unceremoniously dumped to the floor from behind by Clarke 22 yards out. Cooper's free kick was headed home by Taylor from 6 yards.

The goal gave Darlaston added impetus and they were now in the ascendancy. On 72 minutes Agyemang again broke through the heart of the defence but for the second time in a one on one situation with keeper Smith, the keeper came out on top as Agyemang shot tamely at Smith who made a comfortable save.

Smith was again in action on 74 minutes saving a snapshot from Agyemang. Beckford could've sealed the game for Sporting on 85 minutes but shot wide from 16 yards.

The large crowd were treated to a wonder save on 86 minutes which denied the home side the equaliser. Substitute Roman Graham rose majestically at the back post sending his header into the opposite corner, somehow keeper Smith twisted in mid-air and at full stretch managed to get his finger tips to the ball, diverting it onto the cross bar and eventually to safety. Without question the best save by an opposition keeper seen at The Paycare Ground in 4 years.

However, Darlaston were not to be denied and their tremendous work rate and response to falling two goals behind was rewarded a minute later when they drew level. Substitute Tyrone Clarke O'Connell floated a left-wing cross to the back post, Hough headed the ball back into the danger zone and Agyemang finally got his deserved goal as he was first to respond shooting home from 6 yards.

Overall a draw was a fair result as both teams gave their all in this pulsating encounter.

Tomorrow evening Darlaston travel to BetVictor Southern Division One Central side Coleshill Town in a second round JW Hunt Cup tie, kick off 7.45 pm

This Saturday Darlaston travel to Queen Street home of close neighbours Bilston Town. Whilst Darlaston won the encounter at the Paycare Ground earlier this season this will be their first League visit to Queen Street since the 2006/07 Division One season.