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13/10/2007 DARWEN 4 ECCLESHALL 2 New Darwen manager Wayne Watkins got off to the best possible start in his first league match in charge with this win against the team from Staffordshire. The former reserve team manager had to cope with the problem of fielding a full squad, due to several players leaving with former boss Steve Mullen. Weston in the away goal was soon called upon to punch a dangerous cross away to safety. Paul Mashiter then put Jon Stephenson through on goal, but just as he was setting up to put the ball past Weston, Mapperson raced back to get in a wonderful last ditch tackle on the striker. Just when Darwen seemed to be in control, Matt Anderton passed the ball back to Joe Darwin in goal, under pressure from Spencer. The pass was a bit short, but Darwin tried to control the ball instead of booting it away to safety, Spencer blocked the pass, and unfortunately for Darwen, the ball ran on to Eccleshall’s Williams, who calmly looped it into the net. The home side weren’t behind for long, as Paul Mashiter shielded the ball from a throw, and then passed to Paul Walker, who floated a dangerous ball into the Eccleshall area, which was netted by Matt Haworth. On 35 minutes, Darwen took the lead, as a Jason Jones free kick proved too hot to handle for Weston in goal, and Paul Crompton pounced to convert the chance. A minute later Dominic Slaven came close to increasing the lead when he volleyed a hurried Eccleshall clearance just wide of the post. Just before half-time, an Eccleshall leg managed to get in the way of a Ricky Fogarty drive.  Half Time: Darwen 2 Eccleshall 1 For the first period of the second half, the Darwen defence was put under increasing pressure by the visitors, with Matt Anderton and Daniel Finch having to resort to some last ditch defending. Eccleshall had put substitute Dunn on in the 54th minute, and he in particular caused problems, going close with several strikes. He also fell under a tackle in the penalty area, but the appeal was waved away by referee Mr Green. This pressure left the away side vulnerable on the break, and in the 60th minute, Paul Mashiter evaded the offside trap to put Matt Haworth through. He blasted a volley from twenty yards, which produced a splendid save from the Eccleshall keeper. Five minutes later Eccleshall were given a golden opportunity to level the match, as a goal kick taken by Daniel Finch only reached Mills, who headed it strongly back for Spencer to chase. He delayed his shot enough for Finch to get back and make a saving tackle. Dunn went close with two more efforts just wide of the target, but with less than fifteen minutes to go, Mashiter ran onto a Jason Jones clip over the away defence, and coolly slid the ball home. This seemed to completely deflate the opposition, and they were breached a minute later, with Matt Haworth finishing off a four man move.  Weston in goal then made another great save from a Jason Jones thunderbolt. The away side regained some composure in the last few minutes, with Joe Darwin, who must have been unsighted, making a good save from a thirty yard Dunn free kick, which went through the home side’s defensive wall. Eccleshall finished the scoring, as the Darwen defence, pushing up going for a fifth goal, let Spencer through from just inside their half, and the striker ran on strongly to curl a shot past Darwin. Full Time: Darwen 4 Eccleshall 2 ATTENDANCE: N/A REFEREE: M Green ASSISTANTS: R Graham, A Brown GOALS: Eccleshall: Williams (16), Spencer (87) Darwen: Haworth (25, 78), Crompton (35), Mashiter (77) MEN OF THE MATCH: Eccleshall: Dwayne Spencer Darwen: Matt Anderton TEAMS: Eccleshall 1. Barry Weston 2. Steve Brunt 3. Jack Thornley 4. Liam Kerrigan 5. Mark Mapperson 6. Spencer Gunnel 7. Mat Mills 8. Karl Williams 9. Dwayne Spencer 10. Danny Stevens (c) 11. Mark Johnson 12. James Dunn (replaced Johnson, 54) 14. Danny Williams (replaced Stevens, 75) 15. Paul Brice 16. Josh Nugent 17. Richard Johnson Darwen 1. Joe Darwin 2. Dominic Slaven 3. Paul Walker 4. Daniel Finch 5. Matt Anderton 6. Matt Howarth 7. Richard Fogarty 8. Jason Jones 9. Paul Mashiter 10. Jon Stephenson 11. Paul Crompton 12. John Dickinson 14. Jordan Hulme 15. Courtney Crooks |
Copyright © 2007-2008 Darwen Football & Social Club Ltd . Company registered in England No. 01107666.
The Anchor Ground, Anchor Road, Darwen, Lancashire. BB3 0BB
The Anchor Ground, Anchor Road, Darwen, Lancashire. BB3 0BB