Nightmare start but a great finish for Darlaston
DROITWICH SPA 2 DARLASTON TOWN 3
IN the glorious surroundings of Stourport-on-severn Darlaston and league leaders Droitwich provided a superb spectacle of West Midlands League football in a pulsating game.
After a few lack lustre performances over recent weeks the visitors got off to the worst possible start, conceding a 2nd minute goal when striker James Lemon got behind the defence to drive the ball beyond keeper Liam Whittaker from 12 yards.
Darlaston responded superbly and were on level terms four minutes later. A superb Ryan Jones pass sliced open the home defence for Daniel Bolzon to calmly slot the ball beyond Matt Oliver in the Droitwich goal.
For the remainder of the half both teams played some excellent football with Darlaston generally having the upper hand. Darlaston’s midfield took the game by the scruff of the neck, defender Scott Glasby heading over from two corners, meanwhile Droitwich’s Jack Davies and Dan Cottrill had efforts on the visitors’ goal which were comfortably saved by Whittaker.
After a period of pressure on the home defence, Darlaston missed a glorious chance to take the lead from the penalty spot on 23 minutes, after Luke Charlton was brought crashing to the ground by Curtis Townley. Ant Follows’ spot kick was superbly saved by Matt Oliver.
Perfect pass
Ant Follows and Isaac Cooper both failed to hit the target before another Jamie Holder 60-yard inch perfect pass fell at the feet of Cooper who cut inside and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which drifted inches wide of the the far post.
Both teams entered the half-time interval to applause from both sets of supporters, a great first half of committed football, played at a high tempo.
Whilst Darlaston had the better of the first half the second half was a more even affair with the home team having the edge. On 48 minutes a great piece of skill from Ben Tilbury, a recent signing from Wolves Casuals nearly gave the home side the lead once again but keeper Whittaker made a fine one-handed save.
Droitwich retook the lead in the 51st minute, great work wide on the right by Jack Davies whose cross found the lethal James Lemon who headed home.
But the scores were level again in the 57th minute. A long ball from Darlaston’s deep midfield went in behind the defence, a race between Leon Taylor and Andy Crowther resulted in Taylor blocking a clearance by Oliver before setting up Daniel Bolzon to to score from 10 yards.
As the half progressed Darlaston regained their composure and started to assert themselves again, repelling the home side’s pressure.
Luke Charlton and Isaac Cooper both missed chances before Taylor once again chased a lost cause which resulted in an 82nd minute Darlaston corner. Cooper’s sweet left foot found the unmarked Luke Charlton at the near post, whose superb deft header found the net giving the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.
The final whistle was greeted with joy by the Darlaston team, management and supporters. An outstanding game of football played in the right spirit, very much the same as the first meeting between the two sides on Bank Holiday weekend.
Hard and fair
A fantastic advert for West Midlands (Regional) League Football, both teams gave no quarter, tackles were hard and fair, not a bad word was said by anyone.
The win takes Darlaston into second spot. They will be looking to build on the win as they travel to Brinsford Lane, Coven, on Saturday, where Old Wulfunians will be the opposition. Kick-off at 3pm.