Match Report

Darwen hosted Maghull on Saturday January 11 for their first game of the new year, where they endured a disappointing 3-1 loss.

The Salmoners started the encounter in eighth position in the NWCFL Division One North, whereas visitors Maghull were 13th.

The next 20 minutes saw very little action at either end, with more 50-50s contested in the middle of the pitch than shots on goal.

Unfortunately, Darwen’s fortunes continued to drop, as midfielder Bradley Sixsmith was given a rare 10-minute sinbin for dissent.

The home side appeared to adapt well to being a man down, with a number of promising attacks down the left with Jayden Major however, none could test Maghull’s goal.

Connor Hughes finally did manage to put the ball in the back of the net for Darwen, after Severino’s acrobatic cross, but a late flag on the far side ruled out an equaliser for offside.

At the back end of Sixsmith’s sinbin Maghull doubled their lead.

37 minutes in, goal scorer Harrison Worden drove down the left hand side and all the way toward Darwen’s six-yard box before finding an unmarked Nathan Moffitt waiting at the middle of the goal line.

After a frustratingly quiet first half the hosts went into the break two down with conditions getting increasingly arctic.

The second half started much the same, with Maghull dragging Darwen into battles in the middle of the pitch.

Full-backs Nathan Emery and Sam Burke picked up yellows following an altercation down Darwen’s left wing, before the hosts got their only goal of the afternoon.

Jayden Major demonstrated more of the class he had been trying to produce all game, driving at Maghull’s defence and turning inside and out, before letting an excellent effort fly.

Major’s effort found the roof of the net and looked to spur the hosts on to push for more in the game.

Darwen’s boost was short lived however, with the visitors managing to keep them at arm’s length for the remainder of the half.

A number of confrontations and frequent substitutions from both sides broke up the game, with Darwen failing to gain control.

Leighton Mills introduced new signing Jefferson Goncalves De Abreu in hopes of completing the comeback, but the new winger struggled for service despite playing on both wings in the final 15.

On the 80th minute Maghull restored their two goal lead.

Worden’s free-kick struck the post from distance, before falling to Darren Brannigan a couple yards out, who headed in to secure three points for the visiting side.

Despite Maghull’s continued delaying tactics throughout the half, De Abreu managed to work his way into a goalscoring opportunity as the last chance of the game, but was unable to find the net in his first appearance.

A frustrating display brought Darwen’s seven-game win streak to an end, as they remain nine points off the promotion spots.

On a more positive note, our volunteers must be given a special mention for being able to prepare the pitch for the fixture despite poor conditions, making it the only game that was played across the North West Counties Football Leagues.