Match Report

The Salmoners travelled to Jericho Lane for their last game of 2023 to face South Liverpool. For the past few seasons the venue had been a happy hunting ground for Kenny Langford’s men and they were looking to build on their Boxing Day home win against Bacup Borough.

The game started fairly evenly but sprung into life in the Eleventh minute as ‘The South’ took the lead. A slick home attack was poked home at the far post by Mohamed Abdi. 1-0

This goal proved a wake-up call to the visitors. Three minutes later Darwen were back on level terms.

A great passage of play through the midfield ended with Brayden Shaw taking aim from just outside the area. The midfielder drilled the ball into the goalkeeper’s bottom right hand corner for his Eight goal of the campaign. 1-1

Just over Sixty seconds later, Darwen had turned it around. A Ryan Cattermole long-throw was flicked on by Nathan Bond.

The ball found Max Cane who volleyed the ball with precision into the back of the net. 2-1

After Darwen’s second the game became scrappy, not helped by the horrendous windy and rainy conditions. Salmoners defender, Charlie Lloyd made two great interceptions to deny a duo of clear cut chances for the hosts.

Eight minutes before the break, the Merseysiders pulled level. A defensive mix-up was seized upon by tall forward Lewis Williams. The former Runcorn Town man kept his cool, rounded Lombard and tucked the ball into an empty net. 2-2

The hosts ended the half in the ascendancy and if it wasn’t for Darwen keeper, Oliver Lombard the pink-wearing Darreners would’ve been behind at the interval.

Lombard at full-stretch pulled off a magnificent save to deny Williams a second from a sublime header. The first period ended in parity.

Darwen dominated most of the second half and carved out some great openings. Just before the hour-mark, Gary Basterfield did well on the left wing to beat his man and deliver a brilliant cross over to Leon Creech. Darwen’s leading goalscorer met the cross on the volley but he couldn’t keep his effort down and the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

The Salmoners constantly seemed to over-run and control the game in midfield leading to a succession of half chances. The best falling to Max Cane who bared down on goal on the six yard box but his shot skimmed the outside of the post.

Multiple substitutions from both sides occurred which took the ferocity out of the game. The tempo was restored with Three minutes remaining.

Exceptional work by Darwen substitute, Akim Samms on the left wing resulted in him squaring the ball across the Six-Yard box for fellow replacement Kit Lloyd who unleashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

Darwen had re-taken the lead late on with jubilant scenes from the travelling away fans behind the goal. 3-2.

The clash fell deep into injury time. Darwen looked like they were going to cling on to an important three points. Then there was a late twist.

In the 98th Minute (Eighth minute of stoppage time), the referee called for a foul in the Darwen penalty area and awarded a late penalty to South Liverpool. In the aftermath defender Sam Holt was sin-binned in the protests which fell on deaf ears. Elliot Owen under pressure tucked the spotkick away. 3-3

Late heartbreak for Darwen and shortly after the resumption of play, a point a piece was confirmed.

Even after the late disappointment, Langford’s men should hold their head high after going toe-to-toe with a high flying South Liverpool side and on another day they would’ve had all Three points.

The Salmoners will turn their attention to a quick double header against Atherton Laburnum Rovers at home on Saturday and Daisy Hill away on Monday evening.