Match Report

Darwen travelled east to face Steeton at Marley Stadium, where they won 2-1 under their new management team.

The Salmoners got back to winning ways under the watch of interim managers Ben Langford and Nathan Bond, thanks to two well-taken goals from Pawel Zuk and Akim Samms.

Jack Foster’s final game for the club was cut frustratingly short, with the striker being forced to come off through injury inside ten minutes, as Bond replaced him to get straight into the action out of the dugout.

Samms had chances early on to put the visitors ahead, having one effort saved and heading another chance over the bar from close range after Kit Lloyd’s hard work kept the ball alive.

Darwen posed the biggest threat in what was a fairly slow first half, with Bond’s role leading the line working well to supply Samms and Bruno Severino with room to work.

Aidan Kirby had an opportunity to steal an opener late in the half for Steeton, but the forward’s poor first touch in behind slowed the attack before it could develop.

Kit Lloyd started the second half as strongly as he finished the first, setting up a chance for Bond straight from the restart before winning a penalty on the 50th minute.

Samms stepped up from 12 yards hoping for his first goal of the season, but Bradley Emmerson got down to his right to stop the effort and keep the score level.

Lewis Gartland came close to punishing the away side for their missed chances, when his effort on the counter-attack ricocheted off Louis Hood’s crossbar, but Darwen finally got their goal after 57 minutes.

A number of players saw shots blocked in a scramble in the box, before Zuk wrapped a venomous effort into the bottom left corner to give his side a deserved lead, sprinting to the travelling fans as the team celebrated the first goal of the Langford-Bond reign.

The Salmoners’ mood sat comfortably for the next 15 minutes, until a Gartland free-kick from distance found the top left corner and set the scoreline to one a piece.

Despite the setback Darwen reacted well to the equaliser, turning straight back to pushing for a second goal.

Bond returned to his managerial role with only ten minutes to play with Daniel Price-Jordan replacing him up-front, shortly before the visitors retook the lead.

Severino intercepted a clearance on the edge of the Steeton box, with the ball rolling into the path of Samms, who held off the goalkeeper before delivering a delicate backheel to find the back of the net for an inevitable first goal of the season.

New signing Samuel Ogundare made a brief appearance in a drawn-out period of added time, which saw both teams come close to scoring.

Mohamed Wassa broke free late on to an almost empty Steeton half, the midfielder’s long range attempt coming agonisingly close to a third goal.

Eventually the full-time whistle came after a commendable display away from home earned The Salmoners their first win in three games.

The new management pair reacted to the performance post-match, with Langford saying: “For the last few weeks if we’ve conceded we’ve usually gone flat. But today once we conceded the goal it was like it gave the lads a kick, and they performed. I’m absolutely over the moon with it.

“Next week’s the same again, we’re going to smash everyone. Anyone in our way we’re going for it.”

After his vital role on the pitch, Bond spoke about what he saw from the side, saying: “It was bang on. His[Samms] head was down, I said mate you’ll get the winner.

His head was down for ten, 15 minutes then he popped up today and got the winner.

“The lads are absolutely buzzing.

“We’ll recruit a few new players upfront I think, I’m not doing that running again.”