Match Report

Darwen hosted Droylsden for the first game of the new year where they were beaten 3-2 in the NWCFL Division One North meeting.

A chaotic opening 45 minutes saw The Salmoners take an early 2-0 lead with goals from Bruno Severino and Nathan Bond, before Cody Artwell and Harry Shipton scored to bring the game back to level terms.

The Manchester-based side completed their comeback in the second half, after Kyle Campbell netted his first goal since the beginning of October.

It took just ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken at the Anchor Ground, as Severino converted a penalty won by Bond. Pawel Zuk’s cross was taken in by the striker, before a reckless tackle in the box allowed Severino to roll in a fourth goal of the season from 12 yards.

The player-manager was involved again when he latched on to Nario Baptista’s long pass to nod the ball over a stranded Jordan Latham and double his side’s lead only three minutes after the opener.

Severino came close to a rapid-fire brace straight afterwards, his volley from inside the area being kept out after a dropping ball wasn’t cleared away.

Droylsden responded in the 25th by way of a defensive mix-up, Artwell having picked up a loose back pass to move past a helpless Morgan Newns and strike the ball into an empty net.

Kit Lloyd had a chance to restore the two-goal advantage, as the midfielder cut inside and forced another save from Latham down to his left, but it was the visitors who grabbed the fourth goal of the game in frustrating fashion for the hosts.

A deep corner found defender Shipton at the back post, who turned the ball over the line in a scrappy manner directly before the half-time whistle sounded.

The Bloods continued their push in the second half and managed to get in front after 62 minutes when Campbell finished off another frantic chance with an effort from the near post.

Despite the immense pressure put on by Darwen as the game closed out there were minimal clear-cut chances, as time ran out for a repeat of the 3-3 heroics from the Holker Old Boys fixture a month prior.

The defeat made it four games without a win as The Salmoners ended the day ninth in the table.