Lewis On Sport

Darwen victorious in tight ‘towers derby’

Darwen came out on top in a tight ‘towers derby’ on Saturday afternoon, defeating AFC Blackpool 2-1 at the WEC Group Anchor Ground.

The Salmoners took an early lead thanks to Leon Creech, before a spell of dominance midway through the second 45 culminated in Nathan Bond putting Darwen two to the good.

The visitors pulled a goal back late on, but couldn’t find a second in the small amount of time that remained.

On a chilly February afternoon, Darwen got the encounter underway.

The first shot of the game fell the way of the visitors, with an effort being deflected wide of target.

At the other end, a Gary Basterfield free-kick was comfortably held by Pool keeper Liam Bleeker.

With just under a quarter of an hour gone, The Salmoners took the lead. Defender Chris Lynch played a delightful ball through to talisman Leon Creech, and Darwen’s number nine finished superbly with a cross-goal strike into the top left-hand corner. 1-0.

Minutes later, it could well have been two. Gary Basterfield stood an improvised ball up for Bond who couldn’t get the connection required to volley home.

The game was stopped as Matthew Jonathon received treatment. The defender couldn’t carry on and was replaced by Kian Sharples.

A controversial decision by referee Declan Dunn followed soon after the resumption of play. Blackpool centre-half Luke Ruscoe was only booked for handling the ball just outside the 18-yard box, with Creech chasing him down.

Kenny Langford’s men protested that Ruscoe was the last man, but the referee didn’t change his decision and the contest remained an 11v11 affair.

Seconds after failing to execute an attempted rabona cross, Bond fired over the crossbar from range.

Darwen keeper Oliver Culkin then made a good save on his home debut for the club, tipping a close-range header over the bar.

The Salmoners couldn’t have come much closer to doubling their advantage just before the interval, when Chris Smalley met a deep Basterfield corner with his head. A Pool man was on the line to clear.

HALF-TIME: DARWEN 1-0 BLACKPOOL

Darwen held a narrow lead over their opponents at the break, after a half of few clear-cut chances.

SECOND HALF

The away side started the second period on the front foot, and forced a good save out of Culkin low down to his left.

A Jack Lynch through ball sent Creech away down the right again. Agonisingly, Creech skimmed the foot of the left post, and the ball went behind for a goal-kick. The scoreline remained 1-0.

Half-hearted appeals for a Darwen penalty were waved away when Bond went down in the box after the midfielder intercepted a ball out from the back.

Darwen were playing some easy-on-the-eye football in pursuit of an all-important second goal.

Anthony Lynch cut in from the right and curled a shot narrowly wide of goal.

With 68 minutes on the clock, they got it. The pressure on the Blackpool goal had become too intense. David Lynch laid off for Bond and The Reds’ captain finessed beyond Bleeker and into the bottom left-corner from just inside the area. 2-0.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Bond sent a fiercely-struck shot not far over the bar.

In the final few seconds, Culkin was robbed of possession by Sam Smedley. The substitute tapped into an empty net to score his first goal for The Mechs. 2-1.

Pool pushed to find the goal that would have salvaged a point for the visitors, but it wasn’t forthcoming, as Darwen held on to record their sixth home league win of the season.

FULL-TIME: DARWEN 2-1 BLACKPOOL

Kenny Langford’s men are next in action when they travel to Chadderton in a week’s time.

THE TEAMS

DARWEN

STARTING XI

1. Oliver Culkin

2. Jack Lynch

3. Matthew Johnson

4. Christopher Lynch

5. Christopher Smalley

6. Martin Middlehurst

7. Anthony Lynch

8. David Lynch

9. Leon Creech

10. Nathan Bond (C)

11. Gary Basterfield

SUBSTITUTES

12. Alfie Carmichael

14. Ben Langford

15. Thomas Entwistle

16. Kian Sharples

17. Joshua Wearden

BLACKPOOL

STARTING XI

1. Liam Bleeker

2. Nathan Whalley

3. Maine Walder

4. Tye Turner

5. Luke Roscoe

6. Kyle Higham

7. Luke Birchall

8. Brendan OBrien

9. Benjamin Duffield (C)

10. Joseph Robinson

11. Richard Seear

SUBSTITUTES

12. Joshua Winder

14. Samuel Smedley

15. Blerti Jacaj

16. Freddie Kenyon