Match Report

Kenny Langford’s Darwen side made it Fifteen points out of Fifteen and maintained their great start to 2023 with a comfortable victory away at Runcorn Town.

Darwen in their Retro third shirt, shared a scrappy opening period with the hosts but in the Eighth minute they took the lead. Ryan Steele lined up a free kick on the left hand side of the area and he struck the ball hard and low into the far corner. It was Steele’s 120th goal for Darwen and a fine finish to seal the landmark. 1-0.

The hosts aimed to claw their way back into the game and a few decent half chances fell to James Salkeld but the striker couldn’t maintain his composure on a number of occasions as they drifted high and wide away from the target.

As the first half wore on the pitch made the tie a dogged scrappy affair once more. As the interval grew ever-nearer, Darwen conjured up the better chances. Anthony Lynch produced a sensational volley from Twenty-Five yards out which creeped inches wide, Leon Creech has an effort knocked off the line and Nathan Bond went on a magical run beating most of the Runcorn defence which resulted in him curling a shot over that skimmed the crossbar.
Darwen went into the break a goal to the good. Half time, 1-0 to the Salmoners.

The hosts started the second half all guns blazing and should’ve been level on Forty-Seven Minutes but they headed a glorious opportunity over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Darwen made them rue that chance, as Ryan Steele played Leon Creech through on goal, one on one, and the striker in sparkling form since his return to the Anchor made no mistake to double the visitors lead. 2-0.

In the Sixty-Ninth minute, Darwen were placed temporarily down to Ten Men as Nathan Bond was sent to the sin bin to the bemusement of the away bench.

This didn’t alter the momentum of the game as in the Seventy-Seventh minute the Salmoners secured their third goal.

Great work from David Lynch on the left hand side culminated in a brilliant cross over into the box which wasn’t well received by the Runcorn defence.

They failed to clear their lines properly and on hand was Ryan Steele to take advantage and tap the ball home into the net for his second of the game. 3-0.

The final stages of the game were well managed by the away side and comfortably saw the game out to seal the Three Points.

The Salmoners now turn their attention to Wednesday evening as they welcome high flying Chadderton to the Anchor Ground.