CITIZENS STEP UP TO BEAT CITY

DARLASTON Town booked their place in step four next season with a comprehensive victory over hosts Lichfield in the MFL Premier play-off final.

Goals from Keiran Cook and Joshua Jones, and a late third from Kieron Miller, made history for the inform visitors, who finished the 2023-24 campaign with a ninth straight win.

A Lewi Burnside goal gave Lichfield hope in front of a record crowd at the Trade

Tyre Community Stadium, but it simply wasn’t to be for the home side, who were edged into second place behind champions Congleton Town at the end of the regular season. They will be desperately disappointed with the result and their performance. One game too many?

Cook’s opener was a gift. He took the ball just outside the box and chipped Lichfield keeper James Beeson. Advantage Darlaston - and there were only two minutes on the clock.

Jones capitalised on a ball in from the left with a header on the edge of the six-yard box to double his side’s lead just before the half-hour. If the home side had nerves, they were showing it.

Nevertheless, Burnside brought the deficit back to a single goal four minutes after the break with a pinpoint header at the back post.

Lichfield almost levelled when Demetri Brown went close with a powerful effort, but any hopes of claiming an equaliser were ended with just seconds remaining when Miller and Darlaston struck on the counter to seal the win and promotion.