Gill's Christmas wish is a win and describes Darlaston's year as 'verging on a miracle'

The Citizens welcome Rugby Town tomorrow hoping to extend their unbeaten run to four Northern One Midlands games.

After securing promotion last season from the Midland Premier League, Gill's side have enjoyed a superb start to life at step four non-league football, and sit sixth - one place from the play-off places - with nine wins from 19 league matches so far this season. 

The Darlaston boss is certainly enjoying the ride with his side, and summed up their incredible year.

"It's been an unbelievable 12 months," said Gill. "It is verging on a miracle what we have done and with the constraints that we have financially. 

"It is unprecedented, the club had never been out of step six non-league football and now we are challenging to get into step three. It is worrying to a degree because we are putting huge pressure on the infrastructure of the club, but on a positive prospective nobody would have believed it was possible."

The Citizens secured a narrow 1-0 victory against AFC Rushden and Diamonds last weekend, thanks to Aaron Bishop's 81st-minute goal.

The victory added to a slender 1-0 victory over Long Eaton United and 1-1 draw with Quorn that has formed their unbeaten run in the league since mid-November, and Gill wants that to continue as they head into Christmas. 

"We're ecstatic and chuffed to bits," the Darlaston boss added. "Tomorrow it's a home game, the supporters deserve to go off into Christmas with another good performance so that it what it is all about on Saturday.

"They are learning quick, we have probably learned more as a group in the last 20 games than we did in the previous 200.

"We are learning and adapting quick, and that is credit to the players, they have taken on a lot of stuff and have been unbelievable."

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Sporting Khalsa, who are level on points with Darlaston who they face on Boxing Day, go to Bedworth United. 

Khalsa have not won in five league games as boss Ian Rowe has battled an injury crisis.

Elsewhere, in the Northern One West, relegation threatened Stafford Rangers welcome Stalybridge Celtic looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Wythenshawe Town midweek.

Play-off chasing Hednesford Town go to Trafford and fifth-placed Chasetown host Clitheroe after snatching a point late-on at Bootle on Tuesday thanks to Alfie Taylor's 89th-minute leveller to make it 2-2.