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AFC Liverpool v Darwen Saturday 9 August 2008

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8/4/2008 VODKAT LEAGUE DIVISION 2 DARWEN 4 BOOTLE 1

Bootle had already beaten Darwen twice this season, but an excellent performance by the Salmoners prevented a third loss, against a side who at one time were promotion candidates, but who should still finish in the top five of the division.

New signings Karl Turner and Liam Macmillan appeared for Darwen tonight, and were to make a significant impact on the match.

The first real action of the game was in fact the first goal on twelve minutes. Liam Denning put a ball over the Bootle defence, leaving Mawdsley in goal totally exposed. Dean Clarke latched onto the pass, and as the keeper advanced, the Darwen striker coolly slotted the ball into the net.

The home side dominated the half without creating any more good chances but Bootle were hardly a threat. A thirty yard effort from Tyson went over the bar after half an hour, and just before the break Matt Anderton had to clear some danger after a slight defensive panic in the Darwen penalty area.

Half Time: Darwen 1 Bootle 0

The Salmoners continued the pressure from the start of the second half, and when a Bootle attack broke down inside the Darwen half, Matt Anderton spotted Paul Mashiter moving through the visitors’ defence. His pinpoint pass found the Darwen forward, leaving Mawdsley helpless to stop his strike from the edge of the area into the roof of the net.

A few minutes later, Mawdsley came to Bootles’ rescue, as he denied first Paul Mashiter and then Richard Fogarty by diving at the ball with his feet in the penalty area. The ball was scrambled away again, just as Paul Lynch was poised to score.

On sixty five minutes, Darwen manager Dennis Hill substituted Paul Mashiter for Liam Macmillan, and two minutes later, the new signing had put the home side three up. He gathered the ball in midfield and advanced into the box, beating two defenders on the way, then hit a low shot into the bottom corner giving the Bootle keeper no chance.

With twenty minutes to go, a rare attack by the visitors caught the Darwen defence napping, and in an attempt to retrieve the situation, Matt Anderton was adjudged to have fouled O’Connor in the box. Referee Mr Thomson also assessed that the Darwen captain was the last defender, and showed the red card. Fowler converted the subsequent penalty.

This turn of events finally brought Bootle to life, and they began to put together moves which put pressure on the ten man home side. A header from Hopkins was cleared off the line, and a thirty yard strike by the same player had to be punched clear by Calum Heneghan in the Darwen goal.

Bootles’ now frequent attacks left some gaps in their defence, and in a breakaway, Matt Woods found himself upfield alongside Dean Clarke. As a defender approached, Woods cleverly back heeled the ball to Clarke, whose rasping shot Mawdsley could only parry. The rebound fell to Darwen sub Karl Turner, who had just come on, but he mishit his effort wide of the post.

The visitors didn’t learn their lesson from this, and a few minutes later, Liam Macmillan was on the end of three man Darwen breakaway to beat two defenders in the box and blast his second goal of the game into the net.

This goal put paid to any hopes that the visitors had of getting something from the match, their last effort being a free kick just outside the area, which Hopkins put just over the bar.

Full Time: Darwen 4 Bootle 1

REFEREE: C Thomson
ASSISTANTS: W Massy, M Hoole

ATTENDANCE: ??

GOALS:

Bootle: Fowler (71)
Darwen: Clarke (12), Mashiter (51), Macmillan (67, 81)

TEAMS:

Bootle

1. Mark Mawdsley
2. Joe Doran
3. ??
4. Mike Carberry
5. Calvin Dale
6. Liam Laughlin
7. Chris Tyson
8. Lee Hollywood
9. Doc O’Connor
10. Paul Hopkins
11. Andy Fowler
12. Jamie Rainford (replaced Laughlin, 80 minutes)
15. Chris O’Brien (replaced Tyson, 49 minutes)

Darwen

1. Calum Heneghan
2. Richard Fogarty
3. Paul Walker
4. Liam Denning
5. Matt Anderton
6. Matt Woods
7. Paul Mashiter
8. Paul Lynch
9. Louis Wilkes
10. Dean Clarke
11. Dale Bullen
12. Karl Turner (replaced Bullen, 85 minutes)
14. Liam Macmillan (replaced Mashiter, 65 minutes)
15. Matt Prendergast (replaced Wilkes, 82 minutes)

Comments from Darwen manager Dennis Hill.

We started like we played the second half against Norton last week, moving it around and keeping possession. The confidence was there from last week as well. We had to start quickly against Bootle as they are a tough side. They won’t give you any time on the ball, so we had to get it down and pass it quick.

From start to finish, I thought we were fantastic again, just like we were at Norton. I said let’s not make the Norton game a one-off, let’s see if we can do it again.

In the first half we created plenty of chances, and put plenty of balls in the box but they weren’t falling to us. Dean’s chance came our way, but others didn’t.

The second half continued like the first. It was a good pass from Matt (Anderton) and through run by Paul Mashiter, who isn’t 100% fit, but it was a good finish. Mashie is a forward by trade and is probably the best and most experienced finisher we have at the club at the moment.

It was a solid defensive display again. As I’ve said, I’m trying to build from the back, and the main priority is the defence at the minute.

It turned out to be a good substitution later on in the half! I signed Liam (Macmillan) on transfer deadline day, with about two hours to spare. He’s just come back from coaching in America. A person I know well recommended him to the club, and I watched him in training on Thursday, and saw enough to involve him in the squad today. He got a very good touch, he learnt a lot in America, and will be a good addition to the squad.

I thought the penalty was a bit harsh. He went down quite easily, and I didn’t think it was a sending off either, (Matt Anderton) and so we got a double punishment there. As soon as they scored the penalty, they got a bit of confidence and caused us a few problems. But the fourth goal killed them off, and we deserved the three points tonight.