Tomorrows opponents are on an unbelievable run having won 16 consecutive games, a run that started on Saturday 1st September 2018 and has seen them beat fifth placed Droitwich twice (and once in the cup) and Team Dudley, but in Worcester’s remaining 11 games they have to play us twice, fourth place Sikh Hunters twice as well as Team Dudley away on the 3g pitch.

Darlaston are in exceptionally good form and are also on a long run 13 League unbeaten games. In recent weeks both teams have been scoring goals for fun, so tomorrow’s game could be decided by the team that has the best defence.

Both last Season’s games were high scoring, Worcester Raiders played at the Paycare Ground in September and scored two late goals in the last 11 minutes to secure a 3-3 draw. In the return fixture at Claines Lane at the end of December, Darlaston produced arguably their best half of football to score three goals and win the game 3-1. This was after both sides had a man sent off in the opening twenty minutes.

Both sides are looking to win the Division and in doing so securing promotion to the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division subject to FA approval.

Last Season Worcester Raiders finished seventh, one place below ourselves, this was just missing out on promotion the season before after finishing nine points behind Hereford Lads Club and Wednesfield.

This season Worcester Raiders have been outstanding, for any team to win 16 games on the trot at any level of football is something to be seriously proud of. In saying that the season didn't start particularly well for Raiders. August has been the only month that Worcester have dropped points.

On the opening day of the season on 4th August 2018 Raiders were held to a 1-1 draw by Wrens Nest, followed by a 2-1 win at home against Shropshire neighbours Wellington Amateurs the first of three home games. The two games at Claines Lane resulted in a 5-2 win against Wyrley, Joshua Weatherby scoring a hat-trick, the first of a few for Worcester this season. Followed by on the Saturday of Bank a 2-1 loss to Gornal Athletic with Ben Store, now at Tipton and Richard Langford scoring the goals for the visitors. This was Worcester Raiders only lost game of the season so far.

A 5-5 draw followed at Bromyard Town on Bank Holiday Monday with another hat-trick from Joshua Weatherby followed by goals from Luke Malloy and Sam Carey.

From 1st September 2018 onwards Worcester Raiders have won every game they have played in the League, yes there have been some close calls and games, goals scored in the last minutes of games, two were hotly disputed by their opposition. Raiders played four League games in September, they produced a 3-0 win at Willenhall, 3-1 win at Wyrley followed by a 2-0 home win against Old Wulfrunians and their last League of the month saw a visit to Shropshire to face Allscott which resulted in a convincing 4-1 win.

Worcester ended September by playing in the first round of the Worcestershire Junior Cup beating Upton Town 7-0. October was another successful month starting with a 3-1 win at home against Hereford neighbours Bromyard after a 2-2 draw in full-time against Barnt Green Spartak, Raiders winning 4-2 on penalties.

Back to the League, in October starting with a 5-1 win at home against last seasons runners-up Newport Town followed by a Worcestershire Derby where Raiders travelled to Stourport to take on Droitwich Spa resulting in a 3-2 win with a hotly disputed goal by Droitwich giving Worcester Raiders bragging rights and the points.

Raiders progressed into the second round of the League Cup with a 4-1 away win at Allscott. The following game saw a 2-1 loss to Total Motion Midlands League Rivals Feckenham in the Worcester Junior Cup losing 2-1.

Into the end of the year in December Worcester played a full programme of four games. 3-2 win at Telford Juniors followed by a 3-1 win against promotion hopefuls Team Dudley on the grass at their Claines Lane base. hotly disputed goal in the last few minutes of the game after an official flagged that the goal was off-side but this was over-ruled by the referee.

The year finished with a New Year with the return local derby against Droitwich Spa, Worcester won 4-2, Richard Smith scoring a hat-trick.

Since the turn of the year Worcester Raiders have gone on a scoring spree increasing their goal difference significantly. This started with a 7-1 home win against beleaguered Telford Juniors, a 3-0 win at last seasons runners-up Newport Town, a third win against near neighbours Droitwich Spa this time 3-1 in the League Cup, followed by the last three games all being at home, a 5-0 win against Allscott with Richard Smith once again scoring two goals but Alexander Marsh was sent off after receiving two yellow cards and Martin Fowler and Sam Carey finishing the scoring. Another Richard Smith hat-trick secured a 4-1 win against bottom three side Bustleholme with Richard Krol adding the fourth and last week a 7-0 game against Wrens Nest with two from George Corbett and Martin Fowler and single goals from Luke Malloy, Anthony Smith and Richard Smith.

Both sides have strikers in form. Darlaston with Leon Taylor scoring four last weekend in a 6-1 win against Telford Juniors making it 30 for the Season. Closely followed by Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell with 10. Whereas Worcester Raiders have Richard Krol scoring 16 in 16 games, Richard Smith 14 in 14 games followed by Joshua Weatherby with 10 in 10 games.

Darlaston have played four more games than Worcester Raiders and scored 82 goals, conceding just 28. Whereas Worcester Raiders have scored 76 but conceded 26 goals.

This is a must win game for Darlaston Town. Worcester Raiders with their four games in hand could over-take Darlaston once the fixtures have caught up. Therefore, arguably making the return fixture in April an even more vital game at the Paycare Ground.

Manager Parkes’ squad have once again trained well all week and although some players are carrying knocks, it appears Parkes has a fully available squad to select from. The competition for places has been fierce over recent weeks, because everyone wants to play in games of this magnitude

Recent weeks it has been very much a game at a time for the Darlo
management duo, but I am sure everyone has had an eye on this fixture.

We hope there will be a large Darlaston contingent at the game tomorrow, supporting the Club and their team in the quest to make it the most successful season since the club re-joined the West Midlands League at the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

Tomorrows match kicks-off at 2.00 p.m. and for anyone traveling to the game, the ground address is:

Claines Lane
WORCESTER
WR3 7SS