Lewis On Sport

Darwen taste first defeat in nine at hands of promotion-chasing Chadderton

Darwen tasted a first league defeat in nine NWCFL Division One North games on Wednesday night, losing 1-3 to a Chadderton side chasing promotion to the Premier Division.

As the two sets of players prepared to walk out into a rainy East Lancashire night, The WEC Group Anchor Ground eagerly anticipated what promised to be an entertaining encounter between a Darwen side unbeaten in eight league games and a Chadderton team sat third in the division.

Chadderton took an early lead through Kain Dain, before Josh Abbott doubled their advantage just before the break.

In the second half, Adam Dale headed the away side into a 0-3 lead from a corner before Nathan Bond pulled one back for Darwen.

The Salmoners pushed to mount a comeback in the game’s final 20 minutes, but failed to convert their chances, and the scoreline remained 1-3.

The visitors got the game underway.

Darwen started brightly and registered the game’s first shot on target with four minutes on the clock, with Martin Middlehurst forcing a full-stretch save out of Joseph Oldham from just outside the area.

With just other 10 minutes gone, Chadderton took the lead. A effort from just left of centre struck the post and fell to Dain, who tapped home from close range. 0-1.

For a spell after the opener, the away side looked to be well in control, with Darwen struggling to get the ball to their frontline of Leon Creech and Ryan Steele.

A chance was spurned right on the half-hour mark when Middlehurst headed over a free-kick delivery from Steele.

David Lynch was booked by referee Lee Cadwallader for a foul the midfielder made just inside the Chadderton half.

Stefan Holden was called into action to deny Harry Dean from close range after Chadderton’s number seven was left unmarked six yards from goal.

Skipper Nathan Bond side-footed a chance to level over the bar from a corner.

Moments later, it was 0-2. A flowing attack move that was set in motion by Chadderton keeper Oldham was finished off by Josh Abbott.

With Darwen looking for a quick response, the ball dropped for Steele, but the striker didn’t get the connection he would have wanted, and a fairly tame shot was comfortably saved by Oldham.

There was to be one more opportunity for The Salmoners before the interval – Creech curled an effort narrowly wide of the left upright.

HALF-TIME: DARWEN 0-2 CHADDERTON

SECOND HALF

An early goalmouth scramble in the second 45 led to half-hearted appeals for a Darwen penalty, which were waved away by the referee.

At the other end, Holden paid the price for failing to claim a corner from his left, as the ball nestled in the back of the net following a couple of aerial duels. 0-3.

Steele whipped in a corner from the left, which Oldham flapped at. Frustratingly, there was no one in a Darwen shirt on hand to finish when the ball landed in the six-yard box.

With 68 minutes gone, Darwen forged themselves a lifeline. Bond met a Gary Basterfield cross from the right and powered a header beyond Oldham at the near post. 1-3.

Steele carried the ball forward down the left flank before pulling back to Rio Wilson-Heyes, who steered an attempt well wide of target from the edge of the penalty area.

From Darwen’s next attack, Wilson-Heyes made Oldham make a decent save low down to his right.

Minute’s later, Steele sent a header well over the header. It felt as though this was a chance that The Reds’ number 10 really had to score if Kenny Langford’s side were to have any chance of completing a comeback in the game’s closing stages.

FULL-TIME: DARWEN 1-3 CHADDERTON

The referee’s full-time whistle brought to an end what had been a difficult night for The Salmoners. A first league defeat in nine. Kenny, Alex, and the lads will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Ilkley Town – another side in good form – on Saturday.

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Stefan Holden

2. Samuel Holt

3. Anthony Lynch

4. Christopher Smalley

5. Nathan Bond (C)

6. Martin Middlehurst

7. Jack Lynch

8. David Lynch

9. Leon Creech

10. Ryan Steele

11. Rio Wilson-Heyes

SUBSTITUTES

12. Sandro Da Costa

14. Christopher Lynch

15. Gary Basterfield

16. Nathan Strong

18. Matthew Johnson

CHADDERTON

STARTING XI

1. Joseph Oldham

2. Robert Flynn

3. Joseph Richards

4. Jordan Schofield (C)

5. Benjamin Fletcher

6. Jamie Sinnott

7. Harry Dean

8. James Purfield

9. Adam Dale

10. Kain Dain

11. Joshua Goddard

SUBSTITUTES

12. Jake Walker

14. Dominik Williams

15. Christopher Pauley

16. Kgwakgwa Sean

17. Declan Hacking

ATT: 102