Lewis On Sport

Late Steele winner sees Darwen past Ilkley Town in tightly-contested clash

Darwen recorded their third league win in a week on Wednesday (March 23) night, with goals from Leon Creech, Rio Wilson-Heyes and Ryan Steele seeing them past another relegation rival in Ilkley Town.

After a fairly even and goalless first half, Leon Creech opened the scoring just five minutes after the interval.

Wilson-Heyes added a second not long after but Darwen were to throw this two-goal cushion away in the space of five minutes of madness.

Town reduced the deficit on the counter before being awarded a penalty after Nathan Hunt was brought down in the area. Unfortunately for Kenny Langford’s men, the away side’s number 11, Thomas Smith, equalised from the spot.

But Darwen showed great fight and resilience to get themselves back in front. Ryan Steele was the scorer.

The visitors got another Wednesday night at The Anchor and another massive game for The Salmoners underway.

An early corner was swung in by Rio Wilson-Heyes and a header towards goal from Chris Smalley was cleared off the line by a Town defender.

It would have been a stretch to suggest that either side had the better of the opening 10 minutes.

Doherty beat a defender on the right-hand edge of Ilkley’s penalty area and fired towards goal with the outside of his right foot. His attempt didn’t land too wide of Timothy Edney’s left-hand post.

Ilkley’s number 9, Kevin Gonzalez Mele, had too much time and space out on the right but his cross somehow evaded both Niccolas Hewitt and Smith in the box.

There was quite a fast pace to proceedings in the early knockings.

A lengthy stoppage ensued as the game approached the quarter-hour mark as Lewis Cumpsty received treatment. The full-back was eventually replaced by Thomas Entwistle.

The game became more settled as the half wore on, chances were few and far between with comfortable spells of possession for either side making up most of the play.

A huge chance fell the way of Leon Creech but Darwen’s talisman was denied by a fantastic point-blank range stop from Edney, Creech was adjudged to be offside, however.

The game regained some of its earlier pace and energy as the interval approached, with the visitors responding to Darwen going a bit more offensive.

HALF-TIME: DARWEN 0-0 ILKLEY TOWN

Similar story to the first half of last week’s home encounter against Ashton Town.

SECOND HALF

Less than five minutes into the second period, The Salmoners took the lead. And it came from nowhere really.

Stanley loanee Jack Doherty unleashed a strike from the edge of the area when the Ilkley defence failed to close the forward down and the keeper spilled his effort. But Creech was on hand to tap home from close range. 1-0.

The opener saw Creech reach another landmark – 30 goals in all competitions this season. Remarkable.

Darwen were consolidating a bright start to the half and, to be honest, were doing everything but adding an insurance goal.

And then, it came. Rio Wilson-Heyes scored The Salmoners’ second with a cool and composed finish from just inside the area after winning a hard-fought ball for possession on the edge of the box. 2-0. An hour gone.

However, Darwen were soon sitting uncomfortably once again as the visitors pulled one back on the counter. 2-1. 63 minutes on the clock.

Unfortunately, it was to get worse as just a couple of minutes later, Nathan Hunt was set away by a through ball that sliced the Darwen backline and was taken down in the box by Holden.

Town were awarded a spot-kick and Thomas Smith dispatched emphatically. 2-2. Unbelievable.

Darwen needed a goal to save themselves. Time was running out but then a deep cross fell to Ryan Steele who was unmarked at the back right-hand post and The Reds’ number 10 side-footed past the keeper. Cue absolute scenes around The Anchor. 3-2 with 10 to go.

Ilkley pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but never really created a clear-cut chance to put themselves back on terms.

FULL-TIME: DARWEN 3-2 ILKLEY TOWN

The Reds held on to cap a strong performance with three vital points. On April 2, the final day of the league season, Kenny Langford and his team travel to South Liverpool.

ATT: 288

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Stefan Holden

2. Lewis Cumpsty

3. Samuel Holt

4. Christopher Lynch

5. Christopher Smalley

6. Kiel Lonsdale

7. Rio Wilson-Heyes

8. Martin Middlehurst

9. Leon Creech

10. Ryan Steele

11. Jack Doherty

SUBSTITUTES

12. Nathan Bond

14. Ben Langford

15. Clayton Gorman

16. Billy Flitcroft

18. Thomas Entwistle

ILKLEY TOWN

STARTING XI

1. Timothy Edney

2. Joseph Edmonds

3. George Pearson

4. James Nightingale

5. Matthew Swift

6. Joshua Parker

7. Harry Brown ©

8. Niccolas Hewitt

9. Kevin Gonzalez Mele

10. Nathan Hunt

11. Thomas Smith

SUBSTITUTES

12. Luke Barker

14. James Hudson

15. Benjamin Atkinson

16. Aaron Davis