Lewis On Sport

Darwen edge tight encounter with Euxton Villa

Darwen got 2023 off to the best possible start, winning 1-0 at home to fourth-place Euxton Villa on Monday afternoon.

In the first half, chances for either side were few and far between, although Euxton probably should have gone in at half-time with the lead.

Darwen were much better going forward after the break, however, and Ryan McKenna scored the only goal of the game in the 69th minute, heading home Gary Basterfield’s cross.

Villa did try to get themselves back on level terms in the time that remained but to no avail, as Kenny Langford’s side went on to seal the win.

The Salmoners’ first game of the new year got underway.

Chris Smalley saw a header cleared off the line from a corner following an early spell of Darwen pressure.

At the other end, Dan Singleton forced a good save from Fieldhouse low down to his left.

With just under 20 minutes gone, the first clear-cut chance for either side fell the way of the visitors as Villa number 9 Pat Bibby hit the left-hand post from close range.

As the half wore on, The Villains began to enjoy more of the ball but were yet to pose a consistent threat to The Reds’ defence.

Euxton had another really good chance to open the scoring before the half was out, Ethan Darr headed over at the back post from a corner.

HALF-TIME: DARWEN 0-0 EUXTON VILLA

The interval arrived after a goalless and mostly uneventful first 45. Darwen would probably have been the happier of the two sides to see the deadlock still intact.

SECOND HALF

In the opening minutes of the second period, it looked as though Gary Basterfield was going to pose a real threat to the away side, flying down the left flank and attempting to swing some inviting deliveries into the area.

With 20 minutes to go, Darwen got themselves ahead. Substitute Sandro Da Costa and Basterfield linked-up superbly down the left-hand side and the latter found Ryan McKenna, who had been moved up front by Manager Kenny Langford.

McKenna, with composure, nodded into the bottom right corner.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes of regular time, Euxton Villa really started to search for an equaliser.

In the 85th minute, Darr headed over after the defender was left unmarked in the area at a free-kick. He really should have levelled.

Villa huffed and puffed but couldn’t produce another opportunity in what was left of regular time and seven minutes of added time, and the side from Chorley left The WEC Group Anchor Ground empty-handed.

Matters got much worse for the visitors in the closing stages as Euxton Villa Manager Matt Atherton was sent off.

FULL-TIME: DARWEN 1-0 EUXTON VILLA

The result sees Darwen record back-to-back wins and extend their unbeaten run to five league games.

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Lenny Fieldhouse

2. Kian Sharples

3. Samuel Holt

4. Ryan McKenna

5. Christopher Smalley

6. Martin Middlehurst

7. David Lynch

8. Joe Lynch

9. Joe Almond

10. Alfie Carmichael

11. Gary Basterfield

SUBSTITUTES

12. Sandro Da Costa

14. Josh Aspinall

15. Matthew Johnson

16. Bobby Langford

17. Anthony Lynch

EUXTON VILLA

STARTING XI

1. Josh Brooks

2. Joey Mullen

3. Josh Briggs

4. Ethan Darr

5. Alex Colquhoun (C)

6. Lewis Swarbrick

7. George Davies

8. Michael Galliers

9. Patrik Bibby

10. Nathan Parish

11. Dan Singleton

SUBSTITUTES

12. Tom Murphy

14. Ian Billington

15. Lewis Pilgrim

16. Matthew Westwell

17. Callum Speed

ATT: 264