Darlaston Town 1 (Bishop 66) Wolves 1 (E. McLeod 73)
Wolves bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup at the third round stage following a penalty shootout defeat at Darlaston Town on Tuesday evening.
The home side took the lead midway through the second half courtesy of Aaron Bishop before Ethan McLeod levelled for the Old Gold just seven minutes later. However, it was Darlaston who progressed into the next round after getting the better of Ian Sharps’ side on spot-kicks with the two teams unable to be separated after 90.
Sharps named an eleven which had a mixture of under-21 and under-18 youngsters and was captained by Fil Mabete, who had the first opening of the game. A well-worked free-kick down the right-hand side saw the ball crossed into the box and Mabete struck towards goal, but the ball was deflected inches wide of the post.
Alfie White then made a superb last-ditch challenge at the other end to thwart a Darlaston counter, before Lewys Benjamin was quickly out of his goal to defend the rebound.
Leo Lopes then had a good opportunity at the back post after McLeod had picked him out with a cross, but his header went wide, while McLeod had an opening of his own with a strike that tested Tom Allsopp.
Half-time | Darlaston 0-0 Wolves
McLeod led the line well up against his more senior opposition and early into the second half he tested Allsopp once again, but the Darlaston stopper was right behind the effort.
At the other end Kieran Miller fed Bishop, only to see Benjamin in his way, before the striker was successful in another chance on 66 minutes. The hosts attacked the Wolves backline and the ball was worked to Bishop who, on his left football, shot across goal and watched it bobble into Benjamin’s left-hand post for the opener.
However, the Old Gold weren’t behind for long and after Benjamin had made a save to prevent the scoreline from increasing, McLeod levelled. A dangerous ball in from Mason Rees wasn’t dealt with by Darlaston and the ball dropped to the feet of McLeod who, with his back to goal, turned and fired a low left-footed strike under Allsopp.
That equaliser got the tails of Wolves up and several other chances began to follow, with Lopes cutting in and shooting over before seeing a header expertly tipped over the top by Allsopp.
Edozie then produced a fine run which allowed him the space to work his way into a shooting position, however his shot was always rising.
The same man was then denied by Allsopp late on as a he let fly with a sensational strike that had everything it needed in terms of control, power and direction, but Allsopp flew across to tip over.
With penalties looming, there was still one more chance for Wolves in added time as Temple Ojinnaka rose highest to meet a Fraser Harper corner in the middle, but he nodded wide at the back post.
Full-time | Darlaston 1-1 Wolves
With the game level after 90, penalty kicks decided the outcome of the tie and it was the home side who prevailed, scoring three of their four spot-kicks while Wolves converted just one.
TEAMS
Darlaston | Allsopp, Downing, Gill, Pearson, Foreshaw, Podmore, Rowland, Winwood, Bishop, Miller, Mardenborough.
Subs | Gill, Cottam, Hurdman, Wilkinson, Purewal.
Wolves | Benjamin, White, Carson, Rees (Patterson 73), Ojinnaka, Mabete (Voice 70), Edozie, Harper, E. McLeod, Ashworth (Angel 70), Lopes.
Subs not used | Gidaree, C. McLeod.
