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12/1/2008 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO CHADDERTON 1 DARWEN 0

Chadderton kept up their push for promotion with this victory over Darwen, and although the score line does not suggest it, this was a comfortable win.

Paul Mashiter and Courtney Crooks were missing, but Paul Walker came back into the starting line up.

Chadderton’s first chance appeared after seven minutes when Neville intercepted a ball on the halfway line and raced towards the box. Richmond Botchey did well to catch the winger and block his two attempts on goal. The same player went close three minutes later with an effort that just cleared the bar.

Mounting pressure on the Salmoners culminated in a series of corners on twenty five minutes, with efforts from Haydor, Edgehill, and Neville being desperately blocked by defenders. Captain Matt Anderton suffered a knee injury during this period and required several minutes’ treatment.

A Chadderton free kick just inside the Darwen half found Ashton on the wing. He rounded Dickinson to hook a ball into the area. Edgehill rose to the cross but contrived to put a comfortable header over the bar.

On thirty four minutes, and against the run of play, Darwen had a great opportunity to take the lead. Matt Haworth launched a kick into the Chadderton box. Jon Stephenson jumped with defenders and keeper, but the ball cleared them and fell at the feet of Reece Rowinski. It seemed to take him by surprise and he was falling backwards as he ballooned his effort over the bar from three yards out.

Chadderton were unlucky not open the scoring a few minutes later. A powerful header by Morris from a Neville corner grazed the crossbar with Nathan Worrell in goal beaten.

Half Time: Chadderton 0 Darwen 0

Within three minutes of the second half, the home side were nearly gifted the lead. Richmond Botchey took a goal kick, mishit the shot, and the ball fell to Edgehill on the edge of the area. His return volley found the target and keeper Nathan Worrell had to make a fine save diving to his left to keep out the effort.

Chadderton were not to be denied however, and took the lead five minutes later. A good move down the left ended with a low cross along the Darwen goal area. With Worrell scrambling along his line, the ball was put in at the far post by Haydor.

A home corner on sixty eight minutes was cleared off the line by Jordan Hulme. Five minutes later, a great run and shot by Chadderton man of the match Edgehill beat Nathan Worrell, but shuddered against the crossbar back into play.

Darwen created a chance on seventy five minutes with a free kick from the right hand side of the Chadderton half. The ball was swung over to the left post, and substitute Ashley Reece got his head to the cross but could not direct it on goal.

There was another let off for the visitors with five minutes to go. Keeper Worrell went up for a cross with a Chadderton forward, but the ball squirmed through his hands and into the net. Fortunately, the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on the goal minder.

Full Time: Chadderton 1 Darwen 0

ATTENDANCE: 70

REFEREE: N/A
ASSISTANTS: N/A

GOALS:

Chadderton: Haydor (53)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Chadderton: Phil Edgehill
Darwen: Richmond Botchey

TEAMS:

Chadderton
1. Lee Swanson
2. Glyn Billington
3. Paul Ashton
4. David Glynn
5. Mark Egerton
6. Gareth Morris
7. Nick Fraine
8. Nehru McKenzie
9. Troy Haydor
10. Phil Edgehill
11. Lee Neville
12. Mickey Green (replaced Haydor, 65 minutes)
14. Ben Greenidge
15. Donny Greenidge
16. Carl Taylor (replaced Edgehill, 81 minutes)
17. Ben Aspinall

Darwen
1. Nathan Worrell
2. John Dickinson
3. Richmond Botchey
4. Matt Anderton (Capt.)
5. Paul Walker
6. Martin Parkes
7. Jordan Hulme
8. Dom Slaven
9. Jon Stephenson
10. Reece Rowinski
11. Matt Haworth
12. Chris Pearson (replaced Walker, 60 minutes)
14. Joe Darwin
17. Ashley Reece (replaced Haworth, 65 minutes)

COMMENTS OF MANAGER WAYNE WATKINS:

I don’t think we were well beaten. We competed in every area. They were physically stronger than us.

I think it was a game of two chances. They had one, we had one. They took it, we didn’t.

They did press us, especially last twenty minutes. They camped out in our half, but we defended really well. They did only have one chance, and they took it. We had one chance in the first half and we didn’t take it. That was the difference.

We need to stay focused for ninety minutes. We lost it for that second, and their player tapped the ball in at the post.