Darwen Reserves 1 Fleetwood Town Reserves 2
Lancit Haulage Lancashire League
5^th November 2007
Goals: FTFC – Joel Cowell 2

Town were very nearly made to pay for their poor finishing in a game they completely dominated. Chance after chance went begging as the visitors played some decent football on a soft and wet pitch. From a succession of early corners, superbly delivered by Ciaran Donnelly and Anthony Warwick,  Jonathan Smith went close with some powerful headers. Chris Watkinson and Joel Cowell also squandered good chances. It was Cowell who opened the scoring on 16 minutes following a flowing move involving Kyle Webster, Donnelly and Watkinson. The home side were happy to hear the half time whistle, knowing they should have been well and truly out of the game.

To their credit Darwen were much better in the second period and they equalised with 20 minutes to go. The Darwen player was allowed to progress from the half way line unchallenged and his poorly hit shot from the edge of the box should not have troubled Mark Smith in the Town goal. However, Smith somehow lost his footing and the ball crept into the corner of the net.

Fleetwood could see their 100% away record disappearing as the clock ticked by but Donnelly played in Paul Bailey and his touch found Cowell just inside the box. The youngster curled his shot past the stricken Darwen keeper to grab a deserved winner.

Good performances from Cowell, Webster and Mark Davis saw the Darwen Chairman express a wish that he would like to sign the trio but his request was politely refused!

Team: M Smith, Webster, Dust, Hone (Bryan 45), J Smith, Reid, Donnelly, Davis, Watkinson (Bailey 75), Warwick, Cowell. Not used: Tallentire.