Steeton see shocking form continue with defeat at Darwen

In a match that already had the makings of an early season relegation six pointer at the wrong end of the table, visiting manager Roy Mason was left with emotions of anger and frustration after his side’s underwhelming first-half showing.

And despite a late rally that nearly earned the Chevrons a point on the afternoon, in truth the damage was already done after a lacklustre 80 minutes left them with too much of a mountain to climb and now nervously looking over their shoulders at the bottom three.

Matches between the two clubs tend to provide talking points and drama, with the spice for this one being added before the action even took onto the pitch with the signing of Sam Lloyd by Steeton sparking words on social media between the two clubs.

But the Salmoners showed all the early promise of the game, squandering two great chances before finally breaking the deadlock, and subsequently doubling their advantage, in the space of three minutes midway through the half.

Steeton twice got caught cold at the back and were punished accordingly.

A sloppy pass coughed up possession cheaply, Connor Hughes pouncing to bear down on goal and fire past James Catlow for the opener.

Just minutes later, Jack Foster held the ball up before sending it to Jamie Ramwell in the channels.

Ramwell’s cross landed perfectly between two Steeton defenders in the box, allowing Hughes to rise up and head the ball for his, and his side’s, second of the afternoon.

The Darwen onslaught continued as they looked for a third but were denied twice by Catlow.

First he made a good diving save to deny Hughes the match ball before being forced to race outside of his area to clear after a ball over the top again caught the Chevrons defensive line napping.

Jake Townsend, skipper for the afternoon in the absence of Arley Barnes, halved the deficit heading into half-time.

Steeton skipper Jake Townsend gets his side back into the game. (Image: Ian Meachin.)

Building from the back following a short goal kick, the visitors worked the ball into the Darwen half.

From there, Josh Coe flicked the ball on the turn into the path of Townsend, who raced through on goal.

His initial strike was saved but a series of deflections scrambled the ball over the line for his traditional strike against his former side.

Townsend also had an opportunity to bring his side level, but his curling effort from range just before the break dipped over the bar.

A change in formation and personnel came following the break from Mason as he looked to muscle his side’s way back into the arm wrestle.

However, both sides found themselves devoid of any quality, with Darwen’s third goal in the 65th minute the first incident of note in the second half.

Townsend’s free kick into the Darwen box was cleared by the man at the near post, setting the Salmoners on a length of the pitch counter-attack.

With Steeton defenders scrambling back, Ramwell made the most of the opportunity to fire past Catlow once through on goal.

The Chevrons though set up a grandstand finish courtesy of two substitutes, Jack Lynn volleying home Gregorio Barnett’s corner after Darwen failed to clear.

Gregorio Barnett made a difference when he came on, setting up Jack Lynn's late goal. (Image: Ian Meachin.)

Searching for a point, the visitors came agonisingly close to it, as Lynn twice hit the woodwork from headers, either side of Lewis Gartland’s driving effort being deflected over the bar.

Darwen had two golden chances to kill the game off on the counter themselves.

But on both occasions, they squandered efforts with open goals at their mercy, Lynn bravely clearing the second attempt.

Yet his heroics came in vain, with Steeton still just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Mason's men are back in action tomorrow night, as they visit Atherton LR for an Edward Case Cup first round tie.