Darwen v Prescot Cables Lancashire Combination Cup Final 1930

Losing at home in the East Lancashire shield Final against Bacup 0-2 just a few days beforehand could not have been very good preparation for Darwen's 3rd final of the 1929/30 season, especially as they had to cram in 6 games in 10 days. the task was doubly daunting as the Salmoners would have to play Prescot Cables away at Prescot in the final, Prescot Cables were one of the leading non-league clubs in the country during the 1920's and 30's.
Darwen had already lost the Lancashire Junior cup final 0-2 against Horwich RMI in January 1930
The game was played on the evening of Monday 28th April in-front of some 5,000 spectators and working on the basis of the motto "third time lucky" Darwen came out with full guns blazing.
Both sides had their chances but as the first half wore on Darwen took control. In the 40th minute Wilson took a quick corner and Paddy Quigley headed into the net to give Darwen the lead. almost straight from the kick-off Darwen were back in the Prescot penalty area and Shaw hit the underside of the bar and the ball fell into the net only to bounce back out without the referee seeing it! so the Cables escaped.
Prescot through everything they could muster at the Salmoners defence but Mulkeen played out of his skin in goal for the Salmoners, and with a long throw he picked out Shaw in some space who sped off and beat the Prescot keeper to score Darwen's second goal for a final score of 2-0 ( interestingly this was the same cup Darwen had won in 1902 as Champions of the old defunct Lancashire league )

Final score : Darwen 2 Prescot Cables 0