Match Report

The Salmoners made the midweek trip to the Capital of Glass, St Helens looking to return to winning ways after not picking up a victory since the opening day of the season.

Defender, Danny Ashburner returned to the starting line-up after a long absence through injury.

The Hosts controlled the opening stages and gave Darwen a scare early on. Chris Lynch cleared off the line for the visitors in their new pink kit in the Fourth minute.

On Ten minutes Gary Basterfield had Darwen’s first effort on target from the right hand side. His effort from about Twenty-Five yards out was tipped over the bar.

In the next attack, David Lynch struck a half volley cleanly from distance and it grazed the top of the crossbar.

As the Salmoners tried to gain a grasp on the game, Chris Lynch headed a Gary Basterfield corner across goal into the path of Nathan Bond.

The Darwen captain headed the ball powerfully towards goal but it was well saved by St Helens goalkeeper, Joe Mason.

Just a minute later the suckerpunch came. Fieldhouse did well to save a shot but the ball rebounded out to Dominik Stonehouse who tucked the ball home. 1-0 to the hosts.

Just Seven minutes later, ‘The Stripes’ doubled their advantage.

A superb strike from Joe Barker from around Twenty Yards out flew straight into the net giving Fieldhouse no chance. 2-0.

Darwen’s response was swift, in the Thirty-Fourth minute, Gary Basterfield crossed from the left and this time Bond made no mistake with a header at the back post.

It was game on and the scoreline was now 2-1.

This goal boosted Darwen’s resolve and confidence and they controlled the remainder of the first half.

Two chances came the way of Gary Basterfield but Joe Mason was equal to both. One effort in a one-on-one situation and another from a tight angle on the left.

Darwen even had a penalty shout as Nathan Bond was felled in the area but the referee waved play to continue. The hosts hung on until the interval.

The game resumed with both teams on the front foot in a end to end contest without any real chances until Fieldhouse on the hour mark came out bravely to parry away a shot as the hosts broke the offside trap.

Just two minutes later with the St Helens on top once more, Fieldhouse stepped up again saving well from a long range free-kick destined for his right hand corner of the net.

As the game wore on both defences controlled and contained the game, resulting in no clear cut chances for both sides.

The Returning Ashburner, heroically standing strong on numerous occasions.

With Ten minutes to go, Nathan Bond was sin-binned for protesting a dubious offside decision and Darwen went down to Ten men.

This didn’t stop the Salmoners from fighting to the death. Darwen launched crosses and corners into the box in the dying embers of the contest but the St Helens defence remained strong as the hosts picked up the win.

This was St Helens Sixth win in as many games. Full Time: 2-1.