Match Report

Darwen wrapped up their 24/25 season with another comeback win to beat Maine Road 2-1 at The Anchor Ground, with penalties from Connor Hughes and Jack Foster the difference late on.

The Salmoners came into the game without the play-off pressure they were under for months, with sixth place sealed off for the campaign.

Visitors Maine Road were seventh in the table and looking to finish their season as close to the hosts as possible, despite being unable to catch them on the final day.

The pre-game routine was focused on captain Christopher Bailey’s final day, with the centre-half having received a guard of honour from his teammates and opposition before kick-off.

In his pre-match interview, full discussion on X: @LDownesSport, manager Leighton Mills pointed to the presence that his side will miss with Bailey gone.

“I don’t think we replace Chris Bailey to be honest.” he said.
“It’s not just what he does on the pitch, it’s off it.

“It’s the way he is in training, it’s what he demands, the standards he sets, it’s going to be tough.

“Will we get him replaced to what he does off it [the pitch]? It might be a bit difficult.”

The heartfelt goodbyes however, looked to have distracted Darwen from the task at hand in the opening period.

Maine Road forced a number of good saves from Louis Hood in the first 15 minutes, Kaine Williams and Reuben Denton both testing the goalkeeper trying to force an opener.

The hosts’ out-of-character performance continued for large parts of the half, with loose touches and passes giving the away side more chances at goal than they produced themselves.

Hood was called to action to stop another shot from Williams 24 minutes in, with Christopher Bailey stepping in to block the follow-up and protect their clean sheet.

However, it was only a matter of time before Darwen’s slow start was punished.

Centre-back Harvey Woodhouse connected with a volley from the edge of the box after he was left free, firing his effort into the back of the net despite Hood getting a hand to the shot, giving Maine Road the lead after 37 minutes.

The Salmoners stepped into the game after going behind, with Nathan Emery and Bruno Severino the standouts as they looked to pull their teammates up to speed, but there was little reward in the final third as the half closed out.

Darwen restarted the game with more control on the ball than the opening 45 minutes, but chances continued to be hard to come by.

Hood made yet another save to keep Williams out on the 55th minute, as he proved at the time to be the only thing standing between Maine Road and a write-off final day scoreline.

The introduction of Akim Samms on the hour-mark gave the home side a much needed boost.

Four minutes on from the first substitution of the game Darwen found the equaliser.

Connor Hughes got on the end of a cross after goalkeeper Oliver Brockbank missed his punch to clear the ball, before being hacked down in the box with his back to goal.

Hughes finished from 12 yards with ease into the bottom right corner for his 19th goal of the season, making up for his miss at Steeton a week before, to kickstart another comeback.

Jack Foster nearly gave his side the lead three minutes later, receiving the ball from Pawel Zuk and letting fly from 25 yards out, his effort narrowly missing over the crossbar.

Darwen completed the turnaround on the 80th minute, with Pawel Zuk getting a reward from his sprints down the right wing.

Bruno Severino nearly got in behind after wrestling his way into the box again, the following clearance only travelling as far as Zuk before he was brought down just inside the 18-yard-box.

Jack Foster fired home into the same corner as Hughes’, giving the goalkeeper no chance to get across his line in time to keep the ball out.

The penalty made it Foster’s fifth goal in his last four games and taking his tally to 12 for the season.

Darwen looked to seal the game late on, with Samms involved in two chances in the final five minutes, but the penalties proved to be enough for The Salmoners to pick up a final three points.

The 2-1 win rounded off an incredible season under Leighton Mills, hitting 61 points and setting Darwen up with bags of confidence to take into next season, one that the whole club and fanbase will be looking forward to.