DARWEN boss Steve Wilkes was more than happy as his side took a useful point from a difficult away trip.

"If someone had told me we would take four points from our games against Squires Gate before the season I would definitely settled for that," said Wilkes.

"To go to one of the top teams and get a point, especially as that means we have taken four points from them, you have got to be happy.

"The only disappointment was that we did not win it because we were the team in control in the second half, but still we were satisfied with what we came away with."

Gate took the lead on ten minutes when Dave Woodruff's shot-cum-cross swerved into the top corner of the net from 30 yards giving Darwen's debutant keeper Kevin Baldwin no chance.

But the visitors were level 60 seconds later when Andy Walsh curled in a perfect shot from a free-kick.

Darwen went close through Paul Baker, who headed just too high and Matt Swailes had a good shot on the turn well saved, while Baldwin produced a superb one-handed stop to deny Paul Painter in a one-on-one.

Gate had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half, but Darwen were unlucky at the death when Swailes went for goal only to be brought down and the referee waved play on.

SQUIRES GATE...1 DARWEN...1

IN Division Two of the NWCL Bacup Borough's home match against Daisy Hill and Nelson's trip to league newcomers Norton United were both postponed.