Lewis On Sport

Darwen bow out of First Division Cup at quarter-final stage after Isle of Man comeback

Darwen were knocked out of the First Division Cup at the Anchor on Monday by a recently-promoted FC Isle of Man side.

Despite The Salmoners having the better of the first half and going in 1-0 up at the break, a much-improved showing from the visitors in the second 45 saw Christopher Bass’ men advance to the semi-finals with a 4-1 victory.

The away side took kick-off to get the game underway.

Darwen started brightly as Leon Creech played a searching ball towards the back (right-hand) post, which was just out of the reach of Ryan Steele.

A nice passage of play from The Ravens led to them registering the game’s first effort on goal. Adam Cooil struck from the edge of area, his shot was too comfortable for Stefan Holden, however.

Great effort from Steele who turned his man around 25 yards out and unleashed a powerful strike from the left which was punched behind by Dean Kearns.

At the other end, Luca Moretta came so very close to finding the opener but he couldn’t quite divert Adam Cooil’s drilled cross from the right into the bottom corner.  

Sam Knowles was then sent through on goal by a clever bit of improvisation by Creech, the midfielder unleashed a left-footed shot just inside the area, but he didn’t get the connection he would have wanted, and the first real clear-cut chance for either side went begging.

Moretta had another chance to break the deadlock when he latched on to a long ball over the top and looked to lift over the on-rushing Holden but his effort bounced agonisingly-wide for The Ravens.

With around 10 minutes to go until the interval, Darwen found themselves ahead, as Kenny Langford’s men reaped the rewards for a period of sustained pressure Nathan Bond drilled the ball in low from the left and Isle of Man centre-back Jamie Corlett. 1-0.

A brilliant run from Rio Wilson-Heyes down the left almost saw Darwen go two up but his cross just wouldn’t fall for a man in Red in the box.

Darwen were much the better side at this point and were beginning to stamp more and more authority on the game as half-time approached.

Creech was denied at point-blank range seconds before the break. He would have been disappointed not to double The Salmoners’ advantage.

HALF-TIME: DARWEN 1-0 ISLE OF MAN

SECOND HALF

The Salmoners got the second period underway.

The visitors went on the offensive in the search of an equaliser from the off, and just five minutes into the second half they were level.

Having received the ball from skipper Stephen Whitley on the right-hand side, Nathan Cardy jinxed his way into the six-yard box and slotted past Holden with his left foot. 1-1.

The Ravens were now in the ascendency, and it wasn’t long before they took the lead. A super header from Cooil found the bottom left-hand corner, Holden was left with no chance. 1-2. 56 minutes gone.

With Darwen trying to respond, Nathan Bond unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the 18-yard box but his shot was well-saved by Kearns, and the angle was too tight for Creech to convert the rebound.

Kearns made another good save not too long after to deny Doherty as Darwen looked to get themselves back on level terms.

However, suddenly, The Ravens tightened their grip on the game by adding a fantastic third. Cooil found substitute Jack McVey in the box who laid-off for skipper Stephen Whitley brilliantly curled the ball home off the left-hand post. 71 on the clock, 1-3.

Jack Doherty then saw a decent volleyed effort from the edge of the box turned behind for a corner by Kearns.

The visitors’ third goal had taken a lot of fizz out of the game as a contest.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, Isle of Man were happy to retain possession and run the clock down.

There was to be one more chance for the away side, however – and it fell the way of Whitley, who had all the time in the world to pick his spot after being played in by Mcvey, and he comfortably rolled it past Holden. 1-4.

The referee blew for full time and brought Darwen’s 21/22 campaign to an end.

FULL-TIME: DARWEN 1-4 ISLE OF MAN

ATT: 395

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Stefan Holden

2. Samuel Holt

3. Thomas Entwistle

4. Christopher Lynch

5. Christopher Smalley

6. Martin Middleshurst

7. Nathan Bond

8. Sam Knowles

9. Leon Creech

10. Ryan Steele

11. Rio Wilson-Heyes

SUBSITUTES

12. Jack Doherty

14. Clayton Gorman

15. Billy Flitcroft

17. Lenny Fieldhouse

ISLE OF MAN

STARTING XI

1. Dean Kearns

2. Ashley Higginbottom

3. Jacob Crook

4. Ronan McDonnell

5. Karl Clark

6. Jamie Corlett

7. Adam Cooil

8. Samuel Baines

9. Luca Moretta

10. Stephen Whitley ©

11. Charlie Higgins

SUBSTITUTES

12. Kyle Watson

14. Nathan Cardy

15. Jack McVey

16. Sid Batty