Match Report

Darwen were faced with the task of registering their first win of the season in heatwave conditions on Saturday afternoon.

The Salmoners took the lead in the first-half through Alfie Carmichael before a good start to the second period by the visitors saw them find an equalising goal just after the hour mark.

With the clock running down and the points still in the balance, a golden opportunity fell to Rio Wilson-Heyes who tucked it away and bagged the winner for The Reds.

The first 15 minutes of the contest was devoid of any moments of genuine quality as both teams looked to be struggling with the heat.

From nowhere, Darwen took the lead. A short free-kick found its way through to Steele in the right-hand side of the penalty area, the forward’s cross found the head of Carmichael who was left with the simplest of tasks in heading the ball home.

After the first half water break, Darwen looked to press home their advantage – carrying the ball forward with intent and looking to create opportunities.

Appeals for a handball which – if given – would have resulted in a Darwen penalty were ignored by referee Robert Denton after Joe Almond brought the ball down in the box.

Almond picked up the ball around 25 yards out and drove towards the edge of the area but his shot was tame and easily saved by Jordan Moorhouse in the Steeton goal.

As half time approached Steeton were offering very little as far as replying to The Reds’ opener was concerned.
Just before half time, Wilson-Heyes almost added a second goal after getting on the end of a superb diagonal. Darwen’s number 7 raced down the right-hand side towards goal but his shot went just past the left upright.

The second half began in much the same way that the first ended, with Darwen looking to get forward and be positive in a bid to get themselves an insurance goal.

In the 50th minute however, Steeton came the closest they had come to an equalising goal when a glancing header from centre half Alistair Morgan landed just wide of Lenny Fieldhouse’s right-hand post.

As the half wore on, Steeton established a tight grip on proceedings and they found an equaliser in the 62nd minute through their number 6 Tobias Jeffrey, who was on hand to side-foot a low cross from the left past Fieldhouse.

With just over 20 minutes to go, a lovely link up between Ryan Steele and Sam Knowles led to a fantastic chance for the latter. The midfielder’s firm effort towards the bottom left corner was impressively turned behind by Moorhouse. The score remained 1-1.

Gary Basterfield drilled a shot-come-cross across the face of goal which rolled just wide of the right upright.

As the game went into its closing stages, the players took on more water as Carmichael received some treatment.

Just a few minutes from time, Darwen regained the lead. A long throw bounced over the head of a Steeton defender and Wilson-Heyes was positioned perfectly to take full advantage from six yards, side-footing into the bottom right corner.

With such little time left, Steeton were unable to muster anything serious in reply and so Wilson-Heyes’ goal proved to be the winner.

Kenny Langford’s men will hope this win will kickstart their season going next Saturday’s away game against Daisy Hill.