DARWEN continued their inconsistent season with a 3-2 defeat to Chadderton.

Manager Steve Wilkes left himself and Denny Khan out and brought Scott Derbyshire and Craig Shaw in.

The victors were sluggish in the opening stages and the home side took the lead when a deflected Colin Bennett shot found its way past Lee Purvis in the Darwen net.

Andy Walsh 'scored' after 30 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside, and Dennis Hill had a shot saved.

Darwen got a deserved equaliser on the hour when a Hill corner was headed on by Shaw and Mark Heys was on the back post to head home.

Andy Walsh then hit the crossbar, Paul Baker had a header saved and Hill and Shaw had chances.

But it was Chadderton who re-took the lead when a Colin Bennett cross hit the boot of Hill and looped over Purvis, hitting the inside of the back post and bouncing in.

And the home side were 3-1 up two minutes later when Richard Ferguson made no mistake from a one-on-one with Purvis.

Baker pulled one back for Darwen a minute later from a Hill corner, which was flicked on by Matt Atherton.

Darwen laid seige on the Chadderton goal but to no avail.

RESULT: CHADDERTON...3 DARWEN...2