Honours even as wind whips Tipton and Darlaston

TIPTON TOWN 2 DARLASTON TOWN 2

THE weather was the ultimate winner in this Black Country derby, a strong wind and near-blizzard conditions played a major role in the outcome of this enthralling encounter.

Both teams played with great endeavour and high intensity and at times, during a drop in the winds, both played some neat football. Darlaston played the first half with the wind at their backs and made the brighter start but many passes went astray or were over-hit. Isaac Cooper had two early chances, shooting over the bar on 6 minutes and bringing a comfortable save from keeper Chris Thomas on 8 minutes.

Tipton’s Teejay Davies found space on the left and drilled in a low cross which evaded everyone but found Ben Store on the right, the striker returned the compliment by again drilling the ball across the face of the goal, to find the unmarked Davies at the back post. The striker lashed the ball home from 8 yards high into the net past Darlaston keeper Liam Whittaker.

The visitors responded immediately. Leon Taylor held the ball up well in the penalty area laying it off to Tyrone Clarkeo’connell to score his second goal of the season with a crisp left-footed finish across keeper Thomas.

The visitors finished the half the stronger with Jarrod Grant twice and Clarke-o’connell both having efforts saved or wide of the target.

In the second half Tipton had the advantage with the wind at their backs, and had the better of the half. The pace and trickery of Teejay Davies was more evident and his combination with former Darlaston striker Scott Broadway was causing the visitors’ makeshift defence plenty of problems. Davies attempted an overhead kick which missed the target whilst Adam Skeldon’s 22 yard free kick went high over the bar after Ryan Kingdon had felled Broadway.

Danger

Keeper Whittaker was called into action twice on 56 minutes, firstly acting as sweeper as he won the race to deny Broadway with a sliding tackle, and as the ball rebounded he was first to react, winning a second sliding tackle to clear the danger.

On 62 minutes Alex Solomon shot wide for the visitors before Tipton regained the advantage after 65 minutes. Teejay Davies was again the instigator, his pace taking him clear on the left flank and his pinpoint cross converted at the back post by Scott Broadway, who drilled home from 6 yards.

In an attempt to replenish energy levels both managers made changes, but instead of the game opening up it became even tighter. It became clear that neither side was going to give any quarter as the energy, effort and endeavour of all 22 players was a pleasure to see.

Despite this neither side created any clear opportunities until the 81st minute. Leon Taylor held the ball up once again on the edge of the area, playing a deft ball to Isaac Cooper behind the static home defence, and his low cross was millimetres away from the fullstretch sliding Noah Diallo at the far post.

As the game was entering the final minutes Darlaston netted the equaliser. An intelligently-placed throwin by Cooper was flicked on by substitute Daniel Bolzon to Leon Taylor, who shielded the ball superbly, turned his marker and drilled home an 8 yard right foot finish beyond keeper Thomas into the bottom corner.

In an effort to snatch the winner Darlaston piled on the pressure in the five minutes of added time, Taylor and Diallo both failing to convert difficult headed chances.

Both sets of players can be proud of their performances in difficult weather conditions. Honours were even, in what was a scrappy game, marred by the weather and after a tremendous 90 minutes a point was about fair for both teams.

Tipton will be disappointed that they could not hold onto the lead twice whilst Darlaston had the edge in terms of possession which they did not always use well.