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AFC Liverpool v Darwen Saturday 9 August 2008

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24/11/2007 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO DARWEN 1 STONE DOMINOES 0

Darwen consolidated eighth place in the Vodkat League with a hard fought win over the side from Staffordshire. Paul Mashiter and Dennis Hill were still on the injury list, and Matt Anderton was unavailable due to holiday commitments.

The Salmoners opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. A ball was put through the Stone defenders, who had pushed up for an attack, and Reece Rowinski raced into the gap, gathered the ball, and advanced towards the visitor’s goal. Too late, Hall in goal had spotted the striker, and as he ran out, Rowinski coolly chipped the ball over the stranded keeper into the empty net.

On twenty five minutes, a cross into the Stone box found Matt Haworth unmarked. His looping header seemed goal bound, but Hall managed to get fingertips to the ball to push it over the bar.

Five minutes before half time, the visitors created a good opportunity with Brown bursting through the Darwen midfield and sliding a pass to striker Nick Stone in the box. His shot on the turn was blocked by the outstretched leg of Joe Darwin.

A minute before the break, the visitors were awarded a questionable penalty for a trip inside the area. Brown put the spot-kick too close to Joe Darwin, who got strong hands to the ball, with the home defence then clearing the danger.

Half Time: Darwen 1 Stone Dominoes 0

The visitors came out for the second half in a determined manner, and started to put pressure on the home side. They were unlucky not to score after five minutes, when a well struck dipping shot from twenty yards out by Maguire sailed over Joe Darwin, hit the underside of the cross bar, then bounced down onto the goal line.

A minute later, Darwen were denied a second goal as Hall had to stretch to turn away a Dominic Slaven volley.

Stone Dominoes created two more chances in a minute. Brown dribbled through the defence and was just stopped by a combination of Joe Darwin and Chris Pearson. Then the Darwen keeper got a hand to a powerful header from Nick Stone, with Danny Finch completing the clearance.

On sixty minutes, the away side’s bad luck continued as Brown made a great run down the left, cut in, and put a controlled chip over Darwin, only to see the ball hit the bar again.

With ten minutes to go, Stone Dominoes’ Baird intercepted a Darwen throw in their own half, and raced down the right wing. His pull back found man-of-the match Brown waiting just inside the box. Joe Darwin somehow managed to get fingertips to the strike, but it still appeared goal bound. Luckily for the home side, Paul Walker had positioned himself on the line and headed clear.

Full Time: Darwen 1 Stone Dominoes 0

ATTENDANCE: 57

REFEREE: N/A
ASSISTANTS: N/A

GOALS:

Darwen: Rowinski (12)

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Stone Dominoes: Danny Brown
Darwen: Jason Jones

TEAMS:

Stone Dominoes
1. James Hall
2. Adam Edwards
3. Danny Young
4. Niall Maguire
5. Michael Byrne (Capt.)
6. Alex Baird
7. Andy Matthews
8. James Curley
9. Nick Stone
10. Danny Brown
11. Liam Mckinley
12. L Skellern (replaced Stone, 74 minutes)
14. Michael Messars (replaced Mckinley, 62 minutes)
15. Peter Bromley
16. Jamie Cartwright
17. Richard Stone

Darwen
1. Joe Darwin
2. Chris Pearson
3. Danny Finch
4. Martin Parkes
5. Dom Slaven
6. Matt Haworth
7. Jordan Hulme
8. Jason Jones (Capt.)
9. Reece Rowinski
10. Jon Stephenson
11. Courtney Crooks
12. John Dickinson (replaced Stephenson, 59 minutes)
14. Richmond Botchey
15. Paul Walker (replaced Haworth, 74 minutes)
16. Richard Fogarty (replaced Rowinski, 78 minutes)
17. Ashley Reece

24/11/2007 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO DARWEN 1 STONE DOMINOES 0

Comments from manager Wayne Watkins:

A very tough game today, especially in the second half. I think we defended for the whole of the second half, men behind the ball all the time.

It was a very positive start to the game. Reece (Rowinski) is really on fire. Strikers sometimes only get one chance in a game. He did, and he took it.

With Matt Anderton not available, we played Martin Parkes in a holding role just in front of Danny Finch. It worked well, as we controlled the first half, and if we had taken our chances, the game would have been over.

Joe (Darwin) gave us a lifeline in the last minute of the first half with a good penalty save. I know he (Brown) struck it in the middle, but the save has got to be made, and we still have to defend our lines. I thought the penalty decision was harsh, but to be fair, the referee was a lot closer than me. If he says it was a penalty, it was a penalty.

The weather conditions were harsh today, but the team proved they are fit. For the second half we had to battle and battle, and I think we did really well.

Stone were unfortunate today, but I believe you get what you deserve in football, and we defended really well. Sometimes in games, you create your own luck, and we did that today.