Match Report

Darwen travelled south to face Daisy Hill on Saturday January 25, continuing their push for the play-offs with a hard fought 2-1 win.

The Salmoners’ started the afternoon seventh in the NWCFL Division One North, eight points ahead of the Westhoughton side.

An eventful opening 10 minutes saw plenty of action at both ends of an extremely heavy pitch, with Bruno De Almeida Severino going to ground after a tackle in the Daisy Hill box, but all appeals were waved away.

A minute later Severino was wiped out again, this time on the edge of his own box, causing right-back Hensley Mills to confront Finlay Stafford.

Both sides continued the end-to end start to the game, with Daisy Hill’s Jake Obrien and Luke Nicholls both missing good chances, Obrien forcing a good save from James Aspinall.

Darwen looked certain to take the lead after ten minutes, following some excellent break-away play from Rio Wilson-Heyes and Jefferson Goncalves De Abreu.

Wilson-Heyes let off an effort from the edge of the box, with Morgan Newns pushing the ball onto the underside of the bar before managing to dive on the rebound and keep out the opener.

The visitors managed to gain control of the game after the intense start, with a good period of sustained pressure, moving the ball around well in their opponent’s half.

De Abreu demonstrated his skill off the left again, beating his man and forcing a save out of Newns, who spilt the ball to Connor Hughes just a few yards out, before another penalty shout for Darwen, as the number nine went down in a huddle of defenders.

Severino’s play finally brought a Daisy Hill player into the book, with Nathan Bartram-Conway picking up a yellow card for hacking down the midfielder.

Involved again, it was Severino and De Abreu who combined in the build-up to Jamie Ramwell’s opener 36 minutes in.

De Abreu beat his man brilliantly, switching the ball between feet before releasing Severino up the pitch.

Our number eight laid the pass off to Ramwell, who settled himself with one touch before slotting the ball into the bottom right, giving his side a much deserved lead.

The lead didn’t last long however, with the home team equalising from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Christopher Bailey slid in to stop the counter attack as it entered the box, with the referee claiming it hit the captain’s arm.

Darwen were rightly furious with the call, but Obrien converted into the top corner, levelling the scoreline going into half-time.

The second period started much slower than the first, with both sides struggling for clear-cut chances.

Hensley Mills and Nathan Bond defended very well on their wings, with Mills managing to contain Stafford in their ongoing battle, before Jack Foster came on after 72 minutes and injected energy back into Darwen’s attacking play.

Replacing De Abreu after another good performance from the number seven, Foster controlled the game well with the ball at his feet, becoming involved in every move for Leighton Mills’ side.

Charlie Lloyd found the attacker with an excellent ball through, but his following effort was blocked.

After 77 minutes Darwen did restore their lead through the substitute. Connor Hughes lofted a ball through to Foster, who composed himself and rolled the ball under the rushing Daisy Hill keeper.

The remaining minutes of play were even more impressive than their attacking moves throughout the game.

Severino demonstrated his versatility, winning header after header from Daisy Hill’s desperate search of a late goal, with himself and Wilson-Heyes showing excellent game management in possession.

Bartram-Conway struck the post for the hosts late on, with a header that somehow stayed out, but Darwen managed to limit the chances they faced late on with a brilliant team showing.

This proud display from The Salmoners earned them a victory that puts them sixth in the table, rising another place in their excellent run of form and landing just three points off the play-offs.