IAN McClelland scored the only goal of a tense NWCL Division Two derby between two big rivals.

The Bacup captain scored a wonder free kick in the 56th minute to settle the issue - and Darwen boss Steve Wilkes reckons the loss effectively ends their promotion hopes.

The Anchor Ground chief had hoped, after five straight wins, that his side could sneak into a top four position and perhaps have the chance of going up when ground grading is carried out on the top sides at the end of March.

But after a draw against bottom club Castleton on Saturday and last night's result, Wilkes accepts their chances of NWCL Division One football next season have virtually disappeared.

"We have blown it," said a downcast Darwen chief. "We got ourselves into a good position and, whether the lads have started panicking or not I don't know, but they have let themselves down.

"I am just so disappointed. We never play well against poor teams and that is not being derogatory to Bacup, it is just a fact."

Wilkes admitted it was an 'awful' game where his side never got going.

"I don't know why. At the end of the day it wasn't about the rivalry between myself and their boss Brent Peters or the fact it was a local derby, it all came down to three points.

"But we just never performed. We never tested their keeper until late on."

Darwen's top striker Paul Baker survived a late injury test on his ankle but he couldn't find the back of the net, despite two good chances late on.

Matt Swailes also came close with a free kick and Darwen had one shot cleared off the line.

But it was Peters who was smiling at the end of the game.

"I had watched them on Saturday against Castleton so I had a game plan, I knew their shape, and worked to combat that and to be honest it worked well," said the West View boss.

"Our last game had been a 7-0 thumping by Squires Gate and I was forced to play the same players.

"But they showed a lot of passion and character to go away from home, win a local derby and keep a clean sheet."

The goal came after Nicky Taylor had jinked into the area and beat three players before being brought down on the edge of the box.

McClelland took the free kick and it bent into the top corner of the net.

"It was a great goal," conceded Wilkes. "All credit to them, they defended well."

It was backs to the wall for Bacup in the final ten minutes especially after Bacup had Gary Lloyd dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Wilkes threw himself on and created two chances for Baker but it was all to no avail as Bacup held on for the three points.

"I thought we stood a chance of going into Division One and I told the players that. Some of them seemed to have panicked that they weren't good enough to go up.

"They have shown that they aren't," fumed Wilkes.

DARWEN...0 BACUP...1