Darlaston will hopefully return to league action tomorrow afternoon, when they travel down the M6 to Northampton to play ex-football league side AFC Rushden & Diamonds in a Northern Premier League Midlands Division fixture.

The clubs met earlier in the season, back in mid-September at the Paycare Stadium, Rushden & Diamonds winning 2-1 with a 93rd minute winner from Tariq Dallas. Presently Diamonds are mid-table in 11th place just four places below Darlaston who have dropped out of the play-off spots after recent results.

This season, AFC Rushden & Diamonds have played nineteen games, won seven, drawn five and lost seven and at home out of nine games they have won five, drawn two and lost two.

Whilst Darlaston have missed two consecutive Saturdays, Rushden & Diamonds have played regularly throughout November missing no Saturday games.

The month started with a 0-0 draw at Hinckley LR on Bonfire Night. The following Saturday they entertained Coleshill Town winning 3-1, they then travelled to newly promoted and in form Racing Club Warwick. Racing Clib won 5-1. Diamond’s returned back to their Hayden Road Sports Ground where they drew 1-1 against Wellingborough Town, who equalised in the last 10 minutes to take a point.

The last Saturday in November Diamonds travelled to Worcester City and ended up losing 3-0 nd then last Saturday they travelled to Grantham Town which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Danger men for AFC Rushden & Diamonds are Jermail Adams with eight goals, followed by Charlie Green with five and Cairo Taylor with three. All of the other goals AFC Rushed & Diamonds have scored are shared amongst 10 squad members, so goal tomorrow can come from anywhere.

As we know this season, there are certainly no games and every single point has to be earned in every game played over the full 90 minutes plus injury time.

Since their last game, a 1-1 draw at league leaders Quorn, Darlaston have fitted in a friendly against Wolverhampton Casuals, but manager Dean Gill has ensured that the players retain their fitness by putting them through hard training sessions.

There are still players carrying knocks and injuries, and of course coming into Christmas availability always causes issues, but it is hopeful that manager Dean Gill will have a virtually fully fit squad available for tomorrow’s trip to Northampton.

The game is being played at:

AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Hayden Road Sports Ground
Hayden Road
Rushden
NN10 0HX

Admission is ‘pay what you want’ tomorrow, which has proved extremely popular at Darlaston Town when we have utilised this.

There are still seats available on the team coach tomorrow, which departs The Paycare Stadium from 11.30 a.m. and will return back to The Paycare between 7.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.

As always, we hope a large Darlaston contingent will make the trip to Northampton, and we look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.