Match Report

Darwen travelled north for the second week running, this time to face Thornton Cleveleys on Saturday February 15, where a late goal earned them all three points.

The Salmoners came into the fixture seventh in the NWCFL Division One North, after a 1-1 draw on the road against Holker Old Boys a week earlier, whereas the hosts were one place above relegation in 15th.

Both teams started confidently, with two Connor Hughes crosses and a Nathan Emery delivery threatening five minutes in, despite no shots coming from the attack.

Luke Noble managed a couple of attempts early on, troubling Darwen keeper Louis Hood with both, before assisting Thornton’s opener on the 12th minute.

The number nine took advantage of Charlie Lloyd’s loose touch before picking out Jordan Beavers at the back post, whose header flew back across Hood’s goal into the top left corner.

Darwen appeared unfazed by going behind, producing two good chances in the four minutes that followed.

Emery saw his long throw turned onto the leg of Thornton keeper Mark Smith, before Mohammad Wassa’s excellent play forged Connor Hughes a chance to shoot, but his effort was caught high in the middle of the goal.

Nario Baptista picked up Darwen’s first booking of the afternoon, turning out to be the first of many, before midfielder Nathan Bond was forced off with what looked to be a knee injury, replaced by Kit Lloyd after 27 minutes.

Unfortunately Kit picked up Darwen’s second yellow card under 15 minutes after his introduction, a harsh decision based off the 50-50 scenario the challenge he made came in.

The visitors struggled for a large portion of the half to create clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, despite playing a lot of confident football, building the ball well from the back line up the pitch.

Bruno De Almeida Severino came close with an effort rebounding from a blocked free kick, before Connor Hughes came closest to an equaliser right on the half-time whistle.

Hughes looked to have held the ball too long on the edge of the Thornton 18-yard box, before shifting the ball past his man and releasing a curled effort that flew just wide of the keeper’s left post.

Despite trailing it was the Salmoners who came out strongest in the second 45, with Bradley Sixsmith coming inches away from equalising 57 minutes in.

Another quality delivery into the box from a Nathan Emery corner found Sixsmith free around the penalty spot, but the midfielder’s header dropped just over Smith’s crossbar.

However, three minutes later Darwen got the reward for their strong restart.

Hughes broke into the box, beating his man well down the right hand side, but his cross was turned away to Severino, who settled the ball elegantly with one touch, before letting fly with a composed effort into the far corner.

The strike was Bruno’s fifth of the season and his second consecutive goal, following his equaliser a week prior on the road at Holker Old Boys.

Thornton nearly stunted the comeback six minutes on, but Matthew Wood’s free header trickled wide of Hood’s post, massively letting Darwen off the hook.

The visitors made no mistake in controlling the game from then on however, Hughes forcing two excellent saves from Mark Smith in one-on-one opportunities.

Despite a general control over the flow of the game going into the last 10, Darwen made an unfortunate habit of letting attacks travel down their left hand side.

Thornton turned a header onto the outside of Hood’s post, before Noble’s one-on-one threat was ushered away by Charlie Lloyd’s solid defending as the last man.

Akim Samms and Jefferson Goncalves De Abreu entered late on, looking to threaten Thornton’s tiring side with their speed, but it was captain and centre-half Christopher Bailey who won Darwen’s golden opportunity.

Bailey capitalised on a failed clearance from a late Darwen corner, beating Matthew Wood to the dropping ball in the box before being wiped out, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Top scorer Connor Hughes made no mistake from 12 yards, rifling the ball home for a 94th minute winner, a goal that moved The Salmoners up to sixth in the league.

Two tough fixtures wait for Darwen over the next month, with a trip to Droylsden on Sunday March 2 and a home game against league leaders Nelson on March 22.