TWO early second half goals killed Darwen off in this Marsden Trophy quarter final clash against UniBond Premier side Burscough.

Burscough play three divisions higher than the NWCL second division side but after knocking out Conference side Morecambe in the last round, manager Steve Wilkes was hoping to pull off another upset.

The teams had gone in at half time at 1-1 but Burscough goals in the 46th and 49th minutes put paid to that.

"It killed us stone dead," said Wilkes. "Everybody's heads went down and I didn't know what to say or which way to go. The game was over."

Burscough went ahead in the 28th minute when a free kick was flicked on by Billy Knowles and Ged Nolan, unmarked on the penalty spot, slotted the ball under Darwen keeper Kevin Baldwin.

But just before the break the visitors were level when Matt Swailes picked up a Phil Docker pass and fired a shot into the corner of the net.

But just seconds after the restart Lee Dugdale was allowed a free header to put Burscough into the lead and more poor defending allowed Tommy Murphy in just three minutes later to grab the third.

Darwen's Paul Baker had a couple of chances but couldn't capitialise and Lee Furlong scored Burscough's fourth on 90 minutes.

BURSCOUGH...4 DARWEN...1