Tomorrow afternoon Darlaston will finally get to travel to Midland League Division One side Studley to play this time a Buildbase F.A. Vase Second Qualifying Round fixture.

The sides were due to meet last season in The Birmingham County F.A. Mid-Week Floodlit Challenge Cup semi-final, but unfortunately on three occasions, the tie was postponed due to waterlogged pitches, twice at Studley’s Beehive Ground and once at The Paycare Ground. Then of course the season was put on hold because of the Coronavirus pandemic, so the competition was cancelled.

Studley are an extremely successful team and looked odds on for promotion when last season was brought to a premature end in March. They were occupying 3rd place in the league, with games in hand a fantastic platform to secure promotion into the Midland League Premier Division and Step 5 of the National League Structure.

This season the Midland Football League started their season much earlier than The West Midlands (Regional)l League, their first league game being on Saturday 5th September. Currently, most teams within all divisions have played between 6 and 9 games already this season, playing twice most weeks.

Studley’s season did not start as they probably expected. An opening day 1-1 draw at Rocester, Harvey Smith opening the scoring for Studley and a win looked on the cards until Rocester’s Liam Robinson scored 6 minutes into extra time to level the score and share the points.

The following Tuesday saw a 3-1 reversal at last season’s league leaders Leicester Road, Chris Cowley getting on the score sheet for Studley. The start of the season had not been kind to Studley as their first 5 games were all away from home.

The second Saturday of the season required a trip to Heath Hayes which ended in stalemate a 0-0 draw. Darlaston also played at Heath Hayes in a pre-season friendly losing 3-1 to two late goals in the last five minutes.

Studley were back on the M6 again in mid-week another trek this time north again to Stafford Town, Littleton’s ex-player Dean Fisher scoring Studley’s goal in a 2-1 loss.

Studley’s first win of the season was in the first qualifying round of the F.A. Vase when they beat fellow Midland League Division One side Hinckley AFC 2-0, the game being played on a Sunday at Hinckley’s new home at Barwell Cricket & Sports Club.

Back to mid-week league action and a repeat of Saturday's fixture but this time it was played at Studley’s Beehive Ground game followed, this time against the same opponents as they played on the Saturday, Hinckley being Studley’s first home game of the season at The Beehive with an attendance of 66 seeing Studley beat Hinkley 4-1, this after Hinckley had taken the lead in the first minute. Goals from Sean Cooke, David Edwards, Daniel Noke, and Chris Cowley with his second of the season secured the home sides first three points of the season.

The following Saturday in their second home game of the season Studley continued their good form beating promotion chasing Atherstone Town 2-1, all the goals coming in the first Chris Cowley was again on the score sheet again and Dan Carter scoring his first of the season.

Last Saturday Studley were on their travels again, this time into Leicestershire to play Kirby Muxlow. An exciting game finished level at 3-3, with Dan Carter once again on the score sheet with Kyle Blain-Perry and Harvey Smith also scoring.

Studley’s last game was on Tuesday evening against bottom Club G.N.P. Sports, their great form produced an 8-0 demolition of the Coventry based bottom club, a hat-trick from Mark Magee, a brace from Dan Carter with Jordon Jones, Tom Fishwick, and Kyle Blane-Perry with his second of the season, securing Studley’s fifth unbeaten game.

Tomorrow’s hosts have risen from the bottom end of the table and now occupy 8th position and will continue to rise as they are on an unbeaten five-game league and cup run. So far in the league, they have played 8 winning three, drawing three, and losing two, with 12 points. They are eight points behind league leaders Lichfield City with a game in hand.

Darlaston meanwhile, are still pointless in the league. After playing against 10 men for nearly 60 minutes against league leaders Shifnal they still lost 1-0. Nick Lewis’s squad produced a much better performance than their mid-week 3-0 loss at Wolves Casuals.

Manager Nick Lewis has once again added to his squad this week adding another two players who are both available for selection for tomorrow’s game having been registered before today’s midday deadline.

Darlaston are delighted to welcome Stefan Walker a wide player with pace, previous clubs include Market Drayton, Wem, and Redditch United

Also, Darlaston welcomes forward Romario Reid with a reputation for scoring goals, Reid was released by EFL second division side Walsall and has spent time playing in Sweden during his career. Manager Nick Lewis is delighted to secure both players signatures and have them available for selection for tomorrow’s fixture.

Tomorrow's game will be played at Studley’s Beehive Ground – the full address is:

The Beehive Ground
Studley Sports Centre
Abbeyfields Drive
STUDLEY
B80 7BF

Kick-off 3 pm.

PLEASE NOTE - the gate is restricted to 100 ONLY entrance will be granted on a first come first serve basis SO PLEASE GET THERE EARLY to avoid disappointment.

Entrance is £6 Adults, £4 concessions, Children under 16 free if accompanied by an adult