League Cup Quarter Final

This was a very entertaining quarter final tie with both teams playing some good football and defending really well.

The first half was a very even encounter with both sides having chances to go in front, but finding it very difficult to pass two quality defences and goalkeepers.

The best Sports chance fell to Andy Blakeley mid way thru the first half when he was first to react from a save by the Darlaston keeper, Unfortunately though the ball fell to Andy’s wrong foot and the chance went begging.

Darlaston were next to have a chance the strong Nathan Jackson skipping past the Sports defence and firing in a shot across goal but the arriving forward could to get on the end of it.

Half Time

Dudley Sports 0 Darlaston 0

Second half saw Darlaston on top for large periods, but with Chris Howard in excellent form in the heart of Sports defence were being repeatedly kept at bay.

Sports always looked lively on the break, and it was from a Chris Raybone run that took him from the half way line and past four defenders that Sports took the lead, Raybone’s cross at the end of the run saw Ross Harris slide in to fire the ball into the net from five yards.

Darlaston then thru everything at Sports pushing four forwards up front and really giving it there all to get back into the tie.

The energetic Craig Love was then un lucky not to equalise when his shot came back off the post.

Sports rode their luck at times in this tie but also defended really well at other times to come thru this very difficult tie.

Darlaston will surely be up there next season if they can keep this squad together.