Match Report

Darwen welcomed the league champions FC St Helens to the Multevo Anchor Ground on the final day of the league season after their pulsating 5-3 defeat away to Ilkley Town.

A Breathless game sprung into life straight from kick off. In the first minute, Akim Samms found space in behind the St Helens backline. The attacker ran on to a cooly played through ball and kept his composure to fire past Joe Mason. 1-0 to the Salmoners.

As expected the visitors looked for a positive response and on Ten minutes they drew themselves level. Tom Scarborough received a pinpoint pass from Kieran Curtis, caught keeper Harry Turner off his line and lobbed the stopper from about Twenty Yards out. 1-1.

Turner made amends a few minutes later saving excellently from close range. Darwen were put under the cosh in a period of St Helens dominance. The closest the Stripes came in that passage of play was when Chris Bailey had to track back to clear the ball off the line to keep Darwen level.

This clearance became crucial as on the half hour mark, The Reds re-took the lead. A delicious cross from Charlie Lloyd on the right-hand side was well controlled by Leon Creech before the Talisman fired the ball into the top corner. 2-1

Just Three minutes later, the visitors were handed a life-line to get back into the game. Goalscorer, Scarborough was felled in the area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Kieran Curtis took responsibility and dispatched the penalty from Twelve yards. 2-2

This leveller gave St Helens impetus but the Darwen rearguard stayed strong to ensure that both teams would go in as equals at the interval.

Darwen started the second period just as they started the first, being on the front foot. Samms and Cane created a few half chances before Darwen took the lead for a third time in the Sixty-Fifth minute.

Max Cane capitalised on a defensive mistake and raced towards goal, he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet as he rounded the goalkeeper and unselfishly laid the ball back to Leon Creech to get his second goal of the game. 3-2

A period of relative calm followed the fifth goal of the game as both teams made changes off the bench. This calm lasted until ten minutes to go when both sides started going full throttle. Darwen wanted to seal the game whilst St Helens were determined to force their way back into the contest.

Cane and Creech were thwarted twice by good saves from Mason which gave the visitors hope. Their belief was given a boost in the Eighty-Eighth minute as substitute Ryan Woods slotted home an equaliser 3-3.

This didn’t deflate the Salmoners and there was a final sting in the tale. In the Fourth minute of stoppage time, Darwen sealed the Three points.

The Reds threw the kitchen sink at the visitors in the dying embers of the match and following a scrambled corner, Leon Creech smashed the ball into the roof of the net to complete a very memorable Hat-trick.

It was his 22nd of the season and his 96th goal for the club. He became the first Darwen player on record to score Hat-Tricks on the opening and final days of the league season. 4-3

The Salmoners ended the season on a high and must take huge credit for only suffering defeat twice since January.

Next season is shaping up to be an exciting one.