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16/2/2008 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO DARWEN 1 BLACKPOOL MECHANICS 2

A win today would have moved Darwen above their opponents into sixth place in the league, but the inability to create goal scoring chances cost them dear. New faces, James Holden, Andrew Smith, Lewis Barlow, and Matt Williams appeared in the Darwen line-up.

The visitors were ahead within four minutes of the start, as a free kick on the right by Hoogerwerf found Gibson unmarked at the far post for an easy header.

Blackpool’s Hughes swivelled round a defender in the box fifteen minutes later, but Joe Darwin in the home goal blocked the shot away for a corner. Five minutes later, Reece Rowinski had a similar effort stopped by Blackpool keeper Cook.

On half an hour, a powerful Hoogerwerf volley from a cross by Blinkhorn forced a great two handed save over the bar from Joe Darwin. Ashall should have scored from the resulting corner, but mishit his effort wide of the post.

Half Time: Darwen 0 Blackpool Mechanics 1

Ten minutes into the second half, Darwen equalised. A throw from the right found Andrew Smith unmarked on the edge of the area. His low left foot shot into the right corner of the net gave Blackpool keeper Cook little chance.

The home side started to create some chances and James Holden was unlucky to see his twenty yard effort just clear the bar.

The away side still created problems, had an effort cleared off the line by Richmond Botchey, and then re-took the lead on sixty two minutes. In a similar way to Darwen’s goal, a throw from the left ran to Gibson, who had ghosted in from midfield. Despite the attentions of Richmond Botchey, Gibson struck a low shot into the corner, just out of the grasp of Joe Darwin.

The visitors should have increased their lead with fifteen minutes to go. Substitute Ali beat a Darwen defender down the left and put a low cross to Cairns in the centre. With only the keeper to beat, he sliced his effort well wide. Blackpool’s Gardiner ran in on the mishit but put his strike into the side netting. Cairns burst through the defence near the end, but keeper Joe Darwin just managed to get a hand to the drive.

Full Time: Darwen 1 Blackpool Mechanics 2

ATTENDANCE: 86

GOALS:

Blackpool Mechanics: Gibson (4), (62)
Darwen: Smith (55)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Blackpool Mechanics: Steve Gibson
Darwen: Courtney Crooks

TEAMS:

Blackpool Mechanics
1. Jamie Cook
2. Craig Blinkhorn
3. Paul Carroll
4. Jon Simmons
5. Chris Days
6. Steve Gibson
7. Dax Hoogerwerf
8. Mark Ashall (Capt.)
9. Chris Cairns
10. Wayne Gardiner
11. Gavin Hughes
12. Anthony Warwick (replaced Hoogerwerf, 70 minutes)
14. Lyndon Hodgkiss
15. Mohamed Ali (replaced Gardiner, 60 minutes)
16. Ben Rothwell (replaced Days, 55 minutes)
17. Terry Green

Darwen
1. Joe Darwin
2. Chris Pearson
3. Richmond Botchey
4. Matt Anderton (Capt.)
5 "Matt Haworth
6. John Dickinson
7. Jordan Hulme
8. James Holden
9. Andrew Smith
10. Reece Rowinski
11. Courtney Crooks
12. Ashley Reece (replaced Dickinson, 75 minutes)
14. Lewis Barlow (replaced Smith, 70 minutes)
15. Matt Williams
16. Paul Walker
17. Doug Ward