A crowd of 255 were at The Paycare Stadium to witness Darlaston's first competitive game since the passing of striker Leon Taylor on 24 November. Before the game, a rousing one minute applause was observed by everyone in the ground paying full respect and recognition to the club's leading goalscorer over several seasons.

Superb work all week by the voluntary Darlaston groundstaff paid dividends as despite torrential rain throughout the week and all morning the playing surface was excellent, despite being a little tacky in places.

Darlaston were without the league's top goalscorer Andy Nicol bringing in Kieran Cook for his debut along with fellow debutant Mitch Botfield from Chasetown.

On the back of a 4 game unbeaten run, a young, lively, energetic, tenacious and talented Shawbury side made a positive start and had the better of the early exchanges. The Shropshire based side were quick and positive with top goalscorer Seth Ellis creating problems for the home defence only to be denied the opening goal by the Assistant Referee's offside flag.

As the half progressed Darlaston started to get a foothold in the game as Lewis Gill, Botfield, Ryan Winwood and Jake Pearson started to impose in midfield and Cook's pace, trickery and guile causing problems for the visitors back four. Shawbury were thankful to keeper John Acton who pulled off a stunning save diving high to his right to fingertip over the bar a vicious 25-yard rising drive from full-back Reece Mason.

A spell of Darlaston pressure paid dividends on 27 minutes. Lewis Gill was fouled some 35 yards out, the midfielder took the resulting free-kick high and deep into the heart of the Shawbury defence. Under pressure keeper, Acton was outjumped by central defender Dan Turton who netted from 3 yards.

The goal settled the nerves with the quality of Botfiled and Winwood emerging whilst the central defensive partnership of Turton and skipper Alex Foreshaw keeping the lively Shawbury forward line in check denying the visitors any clear chances.

Darlaston doubled their lead on 30 minutes. A superbly weighted through ball by man of the match Reece Mason eluded the Shawbury defence, Cook latched on to it, rounded keeper Acton and calmly slotted home for his debut goal.

The half-time scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on the visitors who were bright and sharp without posing too much of a goal threat.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the visitors again on the front foot. However, it was a rare mistake at the heart of the home defence which saw the visitors halve the deficit on 53 minutes. Josh Jones miscontrolled the ball on the edge of the box, allowing Seth Ellis to nip in before twisting and turning to hammer home past Paul Evans in the home goal.

The remainder of the half became a midfield battle with chances few and far between Liam Trewortha and Liam Byrne impressing for the visitors.

For the home side Lewis Gill drove inches wide from 25 yards whilst keeper Acton got the faintest of finger tip touches to another rasping drive from Gill, Foreshaw failed to press home the advantage failing to connect cleanly with two headers from corners.

As the game entered its final stages Darlaston were denied two strong penalty claims for challenges on Pearson and Cook, the second challenge on Cook the most blatant, being bundled over with a push from behind, but the referee would have none of it.

Liam Taylor was superb all game for the visitors whilst fellow full-back Reece Mason was equally as impressive for the home side.

The win means Darlaston have now won 5 consecutive league games as they consolidate 5th place in their hunt for a play-off position. Following a tough midweek game away at fellow play-off hopefuls Ashby Ivanhoe, Darlaston then embark on a run of 5 games in 14 days the first being an away fixture next Saturday 15 January against Khalsa Football Federation kick-off 3.00 pm.