North West Counties League Division Two: Stand Athletic...3 Darwen...0

AS local derby's go this was indeed a battle and it seems entertainment is always guaranteed these days at Ewood Bridge, for if the football does not captivate there is still plenty going on around the game to keep the supporters enthralled.

If we were to catalogue the details of cautions and sendings-off which referee Mr Brown had to make - ten in the note pad and three walking - the reader might find it boring. But he might presume it was a hard match to play in and he would be right.

Darwen, after putting a small run of goal results together, were determined to upset Stand's apple cart by one means or another while Athletic were keen to get back to winning ways after drawing at Norton the previous Saturday.

Latics got off to a flying start, laying siege to the visitors' goal with the help of their pacey wide men, Stuart Telfer and Mark Denham, who both provided excellent crosses from their respective flanks to cause Darwen problems.

On eight minutes Denham's pinpoint corner from the right found the head of centre half Billy McCartney and he powered the ball home past a hapless Lee Purvis in the Darwen goal.

Ten minutes later Lee Wilkinson had the goal at his mercy but failed after more good work from Denham on the left and Darwen tried in vain to cling onto the match.

To their credit they did and for much of the opening half they enjoyed the lion's share of play as well as Mr Brown's note-paper

The niggles of frustration began to creep into their play as Stand's back four of Dixon, Anderson, McCartney and Gallagher stood firm in the face of any Darwen threat, the four of them marshalled, as always, by the alert Tommy Allen in goal.

It was on this base that Stand built their game in the early stages of the second half, helped by Darwen's Matt Anderton being sent off for another reckless challenge after only four minutes of play. The vice-like grip from Stand's central midfield duo of skipper Steve Stott and Simon Hannon began to tell and they drove the team forward.

Telfer's running with the ball was becoming more of key factor and twice he got himself in excellent scoring positions only to be denied by Purvis in goal.

On 68 minutes Latics' Denham showed both his brilliant and reckless sides for he chased down the Stand right and before reaching the box curled a wonderful shot up and around Purvis to score.

This changed Darwen's approach to the game and Mr Brown got busy again with his cards, Chris Denham seeing red after a late and unnecessary challenge on Andy Walsh to balance up the sides.

Stand's constant pressure and Darwen's risk of trying to push forward meant some huge gaps began to appear and with ten minutes remaining keeper Purvis produced a high challenge that Bruce Lee or German goalkeeper Shumacher would have been proud of to halt Wilkinson. Another red card for Darwen.

And so it was left to Stand to wrap up the game when substitute Neil Dawes fired in the third goal in the final minute to complete a very busy afternoon for all concerned.

Man of the Match: Suart Telfer. STAND: Allen 7, Gallagher 7, Dixon 7, Anderson 7, McCartney 8, Telfer 8*, Stott 7, Wilkinson 7, Hannan 7, C. Denham 7, M. Denham 7. Subs: Dawes for Denham 7, Davis for Wilkinson 7.

DARWEN: Purvis, Derbyshire, Rhodes, Webb, Walsh, Anderton, Grundy, Heys, Baker, Swailes, Shaw. Subs: Khand, Khan J, Docker'

Referee: Mr A Brown (Chester).

This Saturday Stand take on struggling Oldham Town at Whitebank Stadium, Whitebank Road, Oldham.

This will be Stands 20th league game of the season and Lee Wilkinson, who picked up a knock on Saturday, should be fit as Latics look to extend their unbeaten run to 18.

Next Tuesday night (November 27) Stand entertain Alsager Town at Ewood Bridge, kick-off at 7.45pm.

Tickets are still on sale for the club's Sportsmans Dinner on November 28, details from Dave Jackson.