Lewis On Sport

Darwen get off to winning start through late double

Darwen struck twice in the closing fifteen minutes to take all three points from what was a feisty and well-contested season-opener.

Prior to kick-off, all players, officials and supporters impeccably observed a minute’s silence in memory of those who have passed away from COVID-19.

South Liverpool had the best of the opening minutes – Holden had to be quick off his line to prevent a South Liverpool forward latching on to a threatening long ball over the top and the referee waved away the team from Merseyside’s appeals for a penalty. Not long after, a cross from South Liverpool’s Alexander Birmingham almost snuck into the top left corner.

Darwen then had a penalty shout of their own also waved away by the referee despite the fact that the shout looked more convincing than that of South Liverpool’s.

Temperatures rose both on and off the pitch as South Liverpool players and supporters felt aggrieved by referee decisions.

It quickly became clear that South Liverpool were trying to take advantage of the pace of their front three as over the top long balls became the order of the day.

Alex Woodcock dragged his effort wide of the left-hand post from the right.

By the fifteen-minute mark It felt like that those in attendance would be in for a tight but thoroughly entertaining and gripping clash between two teams who were desperate for the points. It was this shared desperation to win that was arguably the most pleasing aspect of the afternoon.    

As the half wore on, Darwen got into the game more and more. The Salmoners would probably even have taken the lead if it wasn’t for a superb piece of last-ditching defending as a South Liverpool man intercepted an attempted through ball from Ryan Steele which would have sent Creech through on goal.

Temperatures rose further when captain, Ben Langford – in chasing a heavy touch – lunged into a tough tackle on South Liverpool’s number 8, Stephen Doyle. Doyle was down for a few minutes receiving treatment for what looked like an injury sustained to his ankle. He eventually had to be replaced.

A series of let-offs occurred during the last fifteen minutes of the first half. Firstly, South Liverpool’s Bradley Williams made a great run down the left-hand side before playing the ball across to his fellow frontman who fired over from close range. Secondly, casual play at the back from Darwen went unpunished by the South Liverpool front three. Finally – and most significantly, Williams missed the best chance – for either team – of the half when he misguided the ball over the bar just eight yards out from the centre of the Darwen goal/

With around ten minutes to go until the interval, some nice link-up play between Bond and Creech down the left looked for a moment as though it was going to bring about the opener but Creech’s searching delivery evaded both Steele and Cumpsty.

Moments later, the tensions that had been simmering since the first few minutes of the game reached boiling point (potentially due to all the chances that South Liverpool had missed) as two firm tackles in quick succession led to Sam Knowles and Stephen Kelly squaring up – one can only assume that Knowles wasn’t best pleased with Kelly’s ‘studs up’ challenge. Knowles was booked for his part. Not long after, Knowles was recklessly taken out by South Liverpool’s Paul Bathgate and so he was also booked.

Darwen would have taken the lead right on the stroke of half time had it not been for a great bit of goalkeeping from Oliver Farebrother, who was at full stretch to deny Sam Knowles who had headed Steele’s lofted free-kick delivery across goal. The loose ball possibly should have been put away by Holt but it was difficult for him with the ball bobbling around in the six-yard box.

HALF TIME: Darwen 0-0 South Liverpool

The second half started much slower than the first but the contest retained that tight ‘could go either way’ feel.

The half’s first official effort on goal was a South Liverpool one. Williams tried his luck from range put his shot lacked the necessary power and placement to beat Holden.

Both teams were looking to play out from the back but at this point it didn’t feel as though either team was capable of establishing a firm grip on proceedings.

A scrappy piece of play led to South Liverpool’s Paul Bathgate – the man who was booked for a reckless challenge on Steele just before the break – receiving treatment after a tackle from Holt, who was booked.

South Liverpool could have taken the lead through a cross that was difficult for Holden to deal with. Williams poked the loose ball goalward but a Darwen man was there to block.

Moments later, Creech made a nice run down the right-hand side, he looked to find Steele with his ball into the middle but frustratingly for Darwen, the ball went behind for a goal kick. Then, Creech almost put Darwen in front himself when he latched on to a Steele free-kick and flicked the ball towards the top right-hand corner. His effort was just slightly high and wide.

Tensions then flared up yet again as a firm tackle was put in on Steele in the centre-circle.

South Liverpool had a decent opportunity to take the lead when they were given a fairly central free-kick right on the edge of the eighteen-yard box but Bradley Williams unfortunately slipped in his run up and struck the ball straight into the Darwen wall.

Creech went on another run down the right-hand side and produced almost a carbon copy of his earlier ball into the area – but this time it was Silas Itotayagbon who couldn’t get on the end of his delivery.

It felt as though one moment – perhaps a mistake, perhaps a piece of pure genius – was going to clinch it for either side. And with 15 minutes remaining, the moment came. Ryan Steele pounced to dispossess a South Liverpool defender following a slight lapse in concentration at the back. Steele was clean through and quickly bearing down on goal – the South Liverpool man had no choice but to bring Steele down and the referee pointed to the spot. Penalty to Darwen. Creech stepped up and effortlessly dispatched the spot kick – guiding the ball into the top right-hand corner. 1-0 to the Salmoners.

South Liverpool were left a little deflated but they had to find the energy to go in search of an equaliser. Although they pushed, it never really felt as though a South Liverpool equaliser was on the cards as they struggled to create a clear-cut opportunity. There was only really one attempt that stands out – a wild effort that sailed high and wide.

As time slipped away, Creech got his and Darwen’s second – and he had a persistent Itotayagbon to thank. Itotyagbon took a short corner on the left-hand side and played an effective one-two with Banks which allowed him to burst past the South Liverpool man in his way and drive into the area. His powerful effort was parried by the keeper – and he was first to the ball when it broke on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box. This time, he opted to square the ball to Creech who, quite simply, couldn’t miss. He side-footed the ball beyond Farebrother in the South Liverpool goal. 2-0 to Darwen with three minutes remaining.

Darwen had a few half-chances to make it three before time was up – the most notable of these was a back-post header from Nathan Bond which looped not far over the bar. South Liverpool almost salvaged something from their first game back in the National League system when louis Gorman headed just over the bar from a corner. But, in all honesty, it was obvious that Darwen’s second goal had taken the sting out of the contest.

The last action of the 90 was a South Liverpool free-kick that was floated into the area and easily claimed by Holden.

FULL TIME: Darwen 2-0 South Liverpool

ATT: 172

Manager, Kenny Langford will no doubt be pleased with not only the result but also Darwen’s dogged and resilient performance. The Salmoners will now look to make it two out of two on home soil against Chadderton on Wednesday night before they hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday when they travel to Barrow-in-Furness to take on Holker Old Boys.

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Stefan Holden
2. Lewis Cumpsty
3. Kallum Banks
4. Luke Jarrold
5. Samuel Holt
6. Daniel Ashburner
7. Ben Langford ©
8. Sam Knowles
9. Leon Creech
10. Ryan Steele
11. Nathan Bond

SUBSTITUTES

1. Aaron Hewitt
2. Silas Itotayagbon
3. Rio Wilson-Heyes
4. Kiel Lonsdale
5. Joshua Liversedge

SOUTH LIVERPOOL

STARTING XI

1. Oliver Farebrother
2. Steven Kelly
3. Christopher Wilkinson
4. Kevin Martin
5. Andrew Lloyd
6. Anthony Sayer ©
7. Alexander Birmingham
8. Stephen Doyle
9. Owen Hough
10. Alex Woodcock
11. Bradley Williams

SUBSTITUTES

12. James Davies

14. Matthew Hughes

15. Paul Bathgate

16. Louis Gorman

17. Joshua Bridge