Match Report

For the opening game of the 23/24 North West Counties Division One season, Darwen travelled to the Riverside to face Garstang.

Over the summer, Darwen Manager, Kenny Langford brought in numerous new faces into his squad as well as keeping the core nucleus of players from last season’s top half finish with the club.

Many league pundits have tipped Langford’s side for a top Five finish and the match was a first glimpse of the relatively new-look Salmoners in competitive action.

New signings Brayden Shaw, Ryan Cattermole, Otis Gorman, Charlie Lloyd and Billy O’Carroll obtained a place in the starting Eleven.

Early doors, The Salmoners set off like a runaway train with a plethora of chances. Firstly, Brayden Shaw delivered a dangerous corner across the box with Charlie Lloyd nearly tapping home to give Darwen an early lead moments into the contest. Lloyd’s effort was deflected over at the last minute by a sharp Garstang defender.

The next chance soon followed with Sam Holt bursting into the area and his vicious shot was tipped over by Garstang goalkeeper, Will Kitchen.

The resultant corner broke the deadlock. Brayden Shaw whipped the ball across but it evaded everyone in the area including Kitchen and nestled into the top corner of the net. 1-0 to the Salmoners after Seven minutes.

Darwen’s tempo slowed down after the early breakthrough with their only chance coming from a well timed through-ball from Langford that found Basterfield but the left-sided attacker sliced over his half volley.

On Seventeen minutes, the hosts found an equaliser. Garstang midfielder, Andrew Murphy struck a free-kick on range and it beat O’Carroll at his near post. 1-1.

Darwen responded down the other end with a Brayden Shaw header being tipped over the bar by Kitchen but soon after Garstang took the lead through a rather unorthodox goal.

Murphy, who had pulled the home side level, delivered a ball across the box, Zach Clark headed it back across goal and Kieran Jones bundled the ball across the line from low on the ground. 2-1 to the hosts after 22 minutes.

Only Six minutes later, Garstang extended their lead. Garstang striker Josh Hall crossed for his strike partner (and Garstang Manager) Zach Hall, who headed the ball home past O’Carroll. 3-1.

This Two-goal cushion didn’t last long, as with the next attack on the half hour mark, Darwen pulled a goal back.

New recruit, Brayden Shaw curled a well-timed shot into the roof of the net to rampant jubilation from the Darwen travelling faithful.

It was Shaw’s second of the match, what a way to introduce himself to the Salmoners’ support. 3-2.

Darwen in their ‘Retro’ Third shirt now seized the momentum and Two minutes later restored parity.

Leon Creech twisted and turned a Garstang defender inside-out on the edge of the box and unleashed a beautiful curling effort into the top corner. 3-3.

Just before the break the turnaround was complete and Creech got his second of the game.

The marksman put a Garstang defender under pressure with his back to goal. He won possession back and bore down on Kitchen before coolly slotting home to give the Salmoners the advantage going into the interval.

Creech could’ve sealed his Hat-trick with the last attack of the half, he was played through by Shaw but his effort was millimetres wide. A crazy Forty-Five minutes consisting of Seven goals came to a halt giving the spectators a chance to catch their breath. 4-3.

Half Time: Garstang 3-4 Darwen

The visitors started the second period just like they started the first, on the front foot. David Lynch created a fantastic opening, crossing for Basterfield but the tricky winger was just inches away from making a connection to add Darwen’s fifth.

Other chances soon followed for Jack Lynch and Sam Holt but the Garstang defence held firm to keep them in the game.

A period of relative calm followed until the Seventieth minute.

Once again Leon Creech was alive to a Garstang defensive mistake. He chased down a Garstang defender who wanted to shield the ball back to his goalkeeper but like a fox-in-the-box, he managed to get in between them and poke the ball home to give Darwen a much needed cushion.

Darwen’s first Hat-trick of the new season. 5-3.

Darwen excellently saw out the game after this point with the only real chance coming from Creech once more. He was a thorn in the side of the hosts all afternoon. He cut in from the right hand side and on this occasion he curled the ball over the top left hand post.

The full time whistle sounded around Riverside and it was met with brilliant celebratory scenes from the Darwen management, players and travelling supporters.

All the coaches and Players went to clap the Darwen fans for their magnificent support throughout the after to a chorus of ‘Darwen are massive, everywhere we go’.

A really fantastic start to the new campaign for Kenny Langford’s side. The Salmoners now turn their attention to Ilkley Town on Wednesday night.