Darwen 0-2 Cheadle Town

Cheadle Town repeated the dose of two goals in the last ten minutes over Darwen to complete a league double in a thoroughly-deserved away win.

In a game that was all-go from the first minute to the nintieth, it was Cheadle who made the brightest start; a stark contrast to the horror-openings that they have had in the past two or three matches. Arron Riley had the first chance after just seven minutes; his well-aimed but powerless header easily dealt with by the 'keeper. Cheadle were playing some lovely football and enjoying the lion's share of possession.

It took Darwen 20 minutes to carve out their first significant chance. Macca missed a tackle on the left and the resulting cross left 'keeper Danny Smith in a bit of trouble, which Ben Roberts mopped up with a clearance off the line. Three minutes later and Cheadle replied with their closest effort thus far: a Johnny Hussain header that went just wide after a teasing cross from Kristian Powell.

It's probably fair to say that Cheadle, despite dominating the passing play, were limited to half-chances in comparison to Darwen's more clear-cut ones. A turn-and-shot in the area was brilliantly beaten away by Danny Smith on 32 minutes and then on 41 minutes a Darwen striker narrowly pulled his shot just wide of the Cheadle post. Ben Roberts was called on line-clearing duties again on the stroke of half-time as he prevented a lobbed shot from going in. Half-time, 0-0.

Whereas Cheadle dominated the opening of the first half, it was Darwen's turn for the second. Time after time they probed the Cheadle defence but were let down by some selfish play at times when better passes were on.

On 70 minutes, the moment that seemed to indicate the swing of the match back in Cheadle's favour. Andy Lindon swung in a superb cross from the left that was almost netted via a superb diving header...from a Darwen defender! From this point on it seemed to be all Cheadle.

Johnny Hussain had a spectacular 25-yard chipped effort tipped over the crossbar on 75 minutes and a Scott Flanagan diving header from a whipped-in cross flashed just wide of the post three minutes later.

With ten minutes to go, Cheadle's pressure finally paid off. Andy Lindon's work down the left resulted in a delicious cross that wasn't dealt with by the Darwen defence; it spilled out to the feet of Arron Riley who cooly side-footed home from 10 yards out. Six minutes later he capped the win with a vicious, dipping shot from the edge of the area. In between the two Cheadle goals was a superb, Gordon Banks-esque save from Danny Smith; if Darwen would have equalised at that point, who knows how this match could have ended up?

There was even time at the end for Scott Flanagan to almost slide in a third goal which would have really put the icing on the cake. No matter. The win was Cheadle's as soon as Arron's audacious second flew into the net.

Credit to the team tonight as they were full value for the win against a Darwen side who are no mugs. Onto this Saturday and another chance to collect a league double against Daisy Hill....

TEAM: Smith, McDonagh, B Roberts, Cotterill, A Roberts, Lindon, Riley, Brocklehurst, Flanagan, Powell (Brokenbrow), Hussain (Logan). Subs: Brokenbrow, Logan.