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23/2/2008 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO HOLKER OLD BOYS 4 DARWEN 0

Darwen suffered a heavy defeat against a side that had started the season badly, not winning a match for the first twenty games, but were now one of the form teams in the division. Wayne Watkins returned to take charge of the team.

Holker’s first goal came after a Darwen attack at the other end. A free kick by Richmond Botchey found Matt Anderton climbing high to head the ball down, which keeper Stephens saved at the foot of the post. A quick throw found Murphy out on the right wing. After beating Chris Pearson, he threaded the ball to Bamber. As defenders raced out, Bamber crossed the ball to Southward, whose strike beat the outrushing Darwen keeper.

The home side struck again two minutes later. Yet another left wing cross found Southward virtually unmarked. His downward header set up Capstick, who dispatched the ball past Joe Darwin in goal with ease.

On nineteen minutes, The Salmoners had a let off, as Hudson blasted a shot from a corner against the bar, and Bamber mishit the follow-up wide. Bamber went close again on the half hour with a snap shot that went just wide of the post.

The visitors were very ineffective for the first half, creating hardly any chances, and consequently putting their defence under increasing pressure. The tactic of playing high balls for the Darwen forwards to run on to proved fruitless against a tall and well disciplined Holker defence. They were restricted to shooting from outside the box with a Reece Rowinski drive lacking the power to beat Stephens in the Holker goal.

Holker put together some nice passing moves, pulling the Darwen defence apart, and just before half time, Holker’s Murphy hit the post with a low drive, after a good move down the right.

Half Time: Holker Old Boys 2 Darwen 0

At the start of the second half, Darwen changed keepers, with Calum Henegan making his debut. Another new face, Sam Holt replaced Captain Matt Anderton.

The away side began the second half more brightly, starting to string passes and moves together, and after ten minutes created their best chance of the match so far. Matt Williams swung a free kick from the left hand side of the side and found Reece Rowinski, who took the ball in his stride and powered into the area. The ball just got away from him, as Stephens came bravely out to smother the chance.

Although now having more of the play, Darwen could not breach the home defence, and paid the price. Holker’s Murphy swung a low corner in from the left. Defenders at the near post failed to clear and the ball ran along the line, finding Southward unmarked for an easy tap in.

A minute later, Darwen created a goal scoring opportunity as a left to right cross field free kick from James Holden was latched onto by Jordan Hulme, who had arrived unnoticed into the Holker penalty area. His sliding shot beat Stephens in goal, but also the left post.

Holker had another goal scoring opportunity ten minutes from time, when Stevens intercepted a back pass from Courtney Crooks to Calum Henegan in goal. He lobbed the keeper, but the ball also just cleared the crossbar.

However, the home side did score again a few minutes later when a hopeful low cross from the right was not cleared by the Darwen defence, leaving substitute Lighfoot to cheekily back heel the ball over the line.

In the final minutes, Jordan Hulme came close with a low shot, but it was a miserable day for the visitors.

Full Time: Holker Old Boys 4 Darwen 0

ATTENDANCE: 20

REFEREE: N/A
ASSISTANTS: N/A

GOALS:

Holker Old Boys: Southward (12, 75), Capstick (14), Lightfoot (84)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Holker: Paul Southward
Darwen: Reece Rowinski

TEAMS:

Holker Old Boys
1. Sam Stephens
2. Mark Daly
3. Gareth Smith
4. Chris Squirrel
5. Graham Capstick
6. Joe Murphy
7. Reece Hudson
8. Glen Capstick
9. Paul Southward
10. Jack Hargreaves
11. Todd Bamber
12. Barry Stevens
14. Rob Lightfoot
15. Dave Robinson

Darwen
1. Joe Darwin
2. Chris Pearson
3. Richmond Botchey
4. Matt Anderton (Capt.)
5. Matt Haworth
6. Matt Williams
7. Jordan Hulme
8. James Holden
9. Lewis Barlow
10. Reece Rowinski
11. Courtney Crooks
12. Paul Walker (replaced Williams, 74 minutes)
14. Sam Holt (replaced Anderton, 45 minutes)
15. Ashley Reece
16. Andrew Smith
17. Calum Henegan (replaced Darwin, 45 minutes)

After the game, Darwen manager Wayne Watkins was noticeably disappointed. His comments were, “There’s nothing much to say, except that it was men against boys”.