Darlaston took the lead in the 3rd minute of the game capitalising on a mistake from the visitors, Jake Person seizing on a misplaced pass. His lay off to James Rowland who was wide on the right flank was crossed first time to the feet of Mardenborough, who turned his man and planted a powerful left footed drive past the keeper to give Darlaston a great start.

Darlaston doubled their lead with the goal of the game> Darlaston were awarded a free kick on the right side of Solihull’s penalty area, Lewis Gill rolled the ball to Ryan Winwood, who scored his annual goal with a pearler his right footed curing shot found the top right-hand corner giving the visiting keeper no chance.

Darlaston went in at half time 2-0 up. During the interval the heavens opened and the majority of the second half was played in pouring rain, which didn’t dampen the game in anyway, as both sides still played their football, Solihull very technical with good touches and short passing, where as Darlaston moved forward at pace.

The visitors got themselves back into the game four minutes into the second half. Darlaston skipper Foreshaw brought down a Moor’s forward wide on their le3ft, the resulting free kick was swung in, and a visiting midfielder was unmarked and finished well with a right footed volley giving Darlaston’s trialist keeper no chance from 12 yards to make the score 2-1.

Solihull had a golden chance the level the score in the 65th minute, the move started from Solihull’s keeper who played out to one of his teammates, he produced the pass of the day a 40-yard diagonal pass to the feet of a speedster who was well in behind Darlaston’s static defence. The wingers cross was pin point directly into the path of the onrushing forward who had all the time in the world to finish with either his head or either feet, unfortunately his effort cleared the bar by some way. As is in most of these occasions Darlaston went right down the other end of the pitch to score giving them a 3-1 lead. A powerful Mardenborough run, saw him square the ball to substitute Kieran Miller who had the easiest of finishes to restore a two-goal lead.

In the dying moments of the game Miller scored his second of the game, a header from a peach of a cross from James Rowland giving Darlaston a 4-1 win.

Both managers were delighted with the game after the final whistle, all players got more minutes in their legs, and its clear Solihull Moors have a very talented Academy side that should do well throughout the season.

Darlaston will tomorrow evening play their second game in three days at Paget Rangers, more details will follow shortly