Match Report

On the back of two straight wins Kenny Langford’s Darwen side travelled to the banks of the River Mersey to face South Liverpool at Jericho Lane Sports Hub. Darwen were also buoyed by the return of last season’s top goalscorer, Leon Creech, who had re-signed for the club from Ramsbottom United. Creech would start up front supported by Nathan Bond with Talisman Ryan Steele and leading goalscorer Rio Wilson-Heyes having to settle for a place on the bench.

Darwen started brightly and in the first Ninety seconds, Gary Basterfield broke free on the left wing, his cross found Bond but his header sailed across the six yard box. Darwen signalled their intent straight from the off.

Darwen held a firm grip on the tempo the game was played at and found the breakthrough on Twenty-Six minutes. A corner from Basterfield was headed by Chris Smalley, his header was parried away to the back post where Leon Creech was on hand to tap in and score his first goal back in Darwen colours. This was met by the iconic ‘Feed the Creech and he will score’ chant by the travelling Salmoners supporters. 0-1.

Only Four minutes later, the hosts found themselves down to Ten men. A rash challenge on Basterfield was met with disdain by his teammates and after consultation with the linesman the referee decided to brandish the Red Card. This made it an uphill battle for the Merseysiders.

On Thirty-Eight minutes the visitors doubled their lead. A great team move ended with Chris Smalley chesting the ball down and volleying the ball into the path of Creech, who kept his composure to shoot the ball against the post and into the net past the helpless South Liverpool goalkepeer, Jacob McCoy. 0-2 and Creech’s Sixty-Third goal for Darwen.

There was nothing of note as the game crept towards the interval apart from a David Lynch Volley that narrowly missed the target over the bar. The Salmoners went in Two goals to the good at the break.

Darwen started the second half in the same fashion as the first and it wasn’t long before they extended their lead.

On Forty-Seven minutes, David Lynch took advantage of a defensive mix up, intercepted the ball on the edge of the South Liverpool area and his interception fell to Nathan Bond who calmly lifted the ball over McCoy and into the net. 0-3.

Ryan Steele and Rio Wilson-Heyes then came of the bench for Jack Lynch and Kian Sharples and they would play a key part in the next goal.

On Sixty-Six minutes, The Salmoners in their Retro kit, broke down the left.

The ball found Ryan Steele, who squared it across the area into the path of Wilson-Heyes and the attacker rifled the ball high into the goal for his Eleventh goal of the campaign. 0-4.

Darwen seemed to take their foot off the gas after the Fourth. Two South Liverpool free-kicks were well saved in the aftermath by Lenny Fieldhouse as the hosts pushed on to force an opening into the game.

On Seventy-Seven minutes, ‘The South’ got their reward on the counter attack as Oscar Billington got the Jericho Lane natives on the scoresheet giving the Ten men a glimmer of hope. 1-4.

As the game progressed on the visitors managed out the game excellently, crushing that glimmer of hope. The full time whistle echoed around the ground which prompted a heroes send off from the travelling Darwen faithful, scenes of jubilation reminiscent of the post game scenes at Jericho Lane last season when Darwen won to ensure their survival in the North West Counties Division One North.

This was the Salmoners Third win on the bounce and it pushes them up the table to Tenth, Eight points off the playoffs.

Darwen now turn their attention to fellow Playoff chasers Holker Old Boys on Tuesday night.