Match Report

Looking to extend their unbeaten run to Five games, The Salmoners visited The Plumb Factory stadium, aka The New Sirs on Monday evening to face Daisy Hill. Only Two days had passed since their late win against Atherton Laburnum Rovers so expected changes were made by Kenny Langford to keep his squad sharp.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors. In the Seventh minute, Gary Basterfield found space on the left hand side and he delivered a delicate ball across to Leon Creech who met his shot on the volley but it was well pushed away from danger by Morgan Newns in the Daisy Hill goal.

The freezing conditions didn’t hinder the tempo of the game as both sides went into challenges full bloodied and full of purpose as the referee let the contest flow.

Just after the Twenty minute mark, a great run from home striker Sam Twist created a chance for Lucas Schofield but at the last moment, Gary Basterfield scrambled back to clear the ball off the line for Darwen. This clearance was hoofed up field and Darwen counter attacked. Brayden Shaw played the ball into Leon Creech’s feet but the Talisman’s shot was tipped round the post by Newns.

Soon after the Salmoners has two penalty shouts, both waved away by the referee. The first being a handball shout as Cane pressured a Daisy Hill defender. The second also involved Cane when he was hacked down by a late follow-through in the area. The protests from the Darwen players and fans came to no avail.

The final highlight of the first half was with ten minutes until the interval. Sam Twist had a goalbound shot blocked on the line by the ever impressive Fin Devenney. It was goalless at the break.

The hosts seemed to have the better of the play as the second act unfolded. Left back James O’Brien unleashed a fizzer of a shot towards the bottom left hand corner but Darwen keeper Oliver Lombard got down well to save and hold his effort. Just before the hour mark the constantly lively Sam Twist was in acres of space but he fired wide from the edge of the area.

Darwen made a double substitution through knocks picked up in this physical contest. Ashley Brierley and Chris Bailey were replaced by Akim Samms and Sam Holt. Samms like previous weeks’, became a threat off the bench and he won Darwen a free-kick in a good area in the Seventy-Eighth minute. Basterfield delivered an inch-perfect ball towards the back post where it was met by Charlie Lloyd. The defender volleyed the ball back into the path of substitute Sam Holt who made no mistake, rifling the ball into the back of the net. 0-1

Darwen with their slender lead entered game management mode as time ticked on, taking the ball into the corner and with every throw in won, corner won and tackle won the Darwen fans let up huge cheers as they inched ever closer towards the finishing line.

After Seven minutes of injury time the final whistle blew. The Salmoners had won back-to-back games and had established a Five game unbeaten run. All eyes will turn to the El Hotpot derby away at Nelson later this month.