Lewis On Sport

Salmoners come from behind to close gap on opponents Ashton

On Wednesday night, Darwen came from behind to beat relegation rivals Ashton Town in what was a pivotal clash.

After a largely uneventful first-half, Ashton took the lead through Leon Wright early in the second period.

But Darwen remained composed and were rewarded for doing so just over 10 minutes later as Chris Smalley headed home an equaliser.

Creech then struck twice to complete the comeback and drag Darwen closer to safety.

Ashton – in their yellow away strip – got the game underway.

Stanley loanee Jack Doherty started really brightly – bursting down the left-hand side and forcing a block to stop a fierce effort from outside of the box.

It looked like the ball had squirmed through to Creech who only had the keeper to beat but the referee brought him back for a handball.

Darwen had started much the better team and dominated the first 15 minutes.

A cross-come-shot from Leon Wright almost caught Holden out but thankfully for the Darwen keeper, the right-winger’s attempt landed on the roof of the net.

Steele found Creech in the box his cross-goal shot was met confidently by Jack Cookson. Pushed behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, the referee waved away appeals for a Darwen spot-kick.

The one criticism to be made of Darwen up to this point was that Leon Wright was being allowed too much time and space out on the right.

The game became more even as the half wore on but neither side were posing sufficient threat going forward.

Moments before the break, there were more shouts for handball in the Ashton penalty area, Darwen’s appeal was again waved away by the referee.

HALF TIME: DARWEN 0-0 ASHTON TOWN

On the whole, an uneventful first half – despite the best efforts of both sides. Darwen not bad but not good enough up to this point.

SECOND HALF

Six minutes after the restart, Leon Wright unleashed a fantastic strike from the right-hand edge of the 18-yard box, which flew into the top left-hand corner and gave Holden no chance.

Town’s number 6, Christopher Hill, went into the book for simulation. The Ashton midfielder was looking for a penalty as he burst into the box.

Darwen levelled when Chris Smalley rose highest to meet a fantastic free-kick delivery. With 57 minutes on the clock, The Salmoners were back on terms.

Just seconds later, a deflected strike from Creech hit the underside of the bar and came back out – so unlucky for Darwen.

Darwen were much better after Smalley’s leveller and they took the lead just after the hour-mark. Leon Creech tapped home a low cross from Ryan Steele.

A brilliant last-ditch tackle by Chris Lynch kept Darwen level when a superb ball cut The Reds’ backline.

Lynch’s intervention was to prove vital as minutes later, Creech rounded off a really nice move down the left-hand side by poking past an on-rushing Cookson.

In doing so, Creech notched up his 25^th league goal of the campaign.

Substitute John Edgerton went all too close to pulling a goal back for the away side. His side-foot volley attempt bounced narrowly wide of Holden’s right stick.

A now-customary audacious attempt from Rio Wilson-Heyes was a highlight of the closing stages. The midfielder turned his man and lamped towards goal. His effort landed not far wide of Cookhouse’s left-hand post.

Ashton then almost pulled one back again through their number 8, Noah Robson, who hit the bar with a great effort from the edge of the area.

Ashton continued to push for a second in the couple of minutes that remained after this attempt but there was to be no reward for the visitors and the referee’s full-time whistle was greeted by cheers of relief from the Darwen faithful.

FULL TIME: DARWEN 3-1 ASHTON TOWN

The Salmoners had crucially closed the gap between themselves and their opponents.

ATT: 90

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Stefan Holden

2. Lewis Cumpsty

3. Thomas Entwistle

4. Christopher Lynch

5. Christopher Smalley

6. Martin Middlehurst

7. Rio Wilson-Heyes

8. Kiel Lonsdale ©

9. Leon Creech

10. Ryan Steele

11. Jack Doherty

SUBSTITUTES

12. Billy Flitcroft

14. Luke Jarrold

15. Samuel Holt

16. Clayton Gorman

ASHTON TOWN

STARTING XI

1. Jack Cookson

2. Carl Lownsbrough ©

3. Owen Collinge

4. Liam Keenan

5. George Wyatt

6. Christopher Hill

7. Leon Wright

8. Noah Robson

9. Deklan Hill

10. Aidan Marshall King

11. Tyler Magee

SUBSTITUTES

12. Alex Noonan

13. Oliver Farebrother

14. Liam Smith

15. John Edgerton