Match Report

The Salmoners travelled East over the Pennines into Yorkshire for their Third game of the season to face Steeton at Marley Stadium.

Ashley Brierley and Nathan Bond were introduced into the starting Eleven for the first time this campaign as Darwen looked to follow up their impressive late point against Ilkley Town.

The game started out as a close affair with not much happening in the early stages of the contest. Darwen’s first chance came on Fourteen minutes as Sam Holt got onto a long throw by Brierley but knee’d the ball wide of the target.

On Twenty-Three Minutes, Darwen carved out their best attempt of the first period as Ryan Cattermole crossed for Bond but his header was tipped wide by Steeton goalkeeper, James Catlow.

Steeton had the better of the chances as the first half wore on. The hosts ‘Man of the Match’ Raeece Ellington danced into the Darwen box and just as he was about to pull the trigger, Darwen defender Sam Holt just got back to clear the danger.

Just after the half hour mark, the hosts had their best opening of the game as Josh Coe squandered a golden chance, heading wide off a pinpoint Josh Townsend cross.

Just before the break, Steeton midfielder Mo Subhani drove a low shot towards the bottom right hand corner but it was well dealt with by Lenny Fieldhouse.

Nothing separated the sides at the break. 0-0 at half time.

The second half started with a much better tempo as former Salmoner, Townsend skimmed a shot towards goal but Fieldhouse was equal to the effort.

On Forty-Nine minutes, the visitors arguably should’ve gone in front when a great team move culminated with Nathan Bond going through on goal. The midfielder’s shot went just inches wide of the post.

On Fifty-Five minutes the Chevrons broke the deadlock. A deflected shot from just outside the area was saved by Fieldhouse, but the ball broke from his grasp and Jake Townsend rushed in and tucked away the rebound. 1-0 to Steeton.

Thirteen minutes later, a long ball from Holt was latched onto by Leon Creech. The Marksman found space around a barrage of Steeton defenders and he was felled in the area. Penalty to Darwen.

The Penalty was saved by Catlow but the linesman flagged for a re-take with Catlow adjudged to have moved off his line early.

Creech made no mistake from the second spotkick and brought Darwen level, 1-1.

Marley Stadium, known as a cursed ground for the Salmoners, threw up it’s next curveball. Darwen’s front two Shaw and Creech were substituted through injury.

Darwen’s only striker on the bench Ryan Mckenna, was brought on and also had to leave the pitch through ailment, meaning Nathan Bond was pushed up front with support from substitute, Jack Banks.

With only Five minutes remaining, Steeton got the crucial goal. Substitute Emmanuel Amole, cut in from the left and unleashed a gravity defying curler into the top corner beating Fieldhouse. 2-1 to the hosts.

Darwen battled right into injury time, even with ten men as Sam Holt was sin-binned for ‘dissent’. That dissent being counting numbers.

Yes, Counting only numbers, as he counted loudly how many seconds the goalkeeper, Catlow had the ball in his grasp. An unusually odd decision which will be unlikely to be seen again.

Steeton held on until the final whistle and walked away with the Three Points.

After Three games, Darwen sit Ninth in the NWCFL Division One North table with Five points. Next up for the Salmoners is a trip to Brocstedes Park to face Ashton Athletic on Tuesday.