THREE goals in 10 minutes at the end of the first half sent Darwen through to the next round of the Worthington Challenge Trophy, where they will meet Great Harwood at home.

But it was the side's worst performance of the season, said manager Steve Wilkes.

"It was the worst we have played, to be honest," he said.

"They were poor but it was a cup game, a win and we are through."

After turning up just 20 minutes before kick off, the Darwen side looked disjointed in the first half and went behind to a Graeme Foster header - through the legs of the manager at the near post - from a corner on 20 minutes.

But Wilkes made up for that mistake when he floated a free kick over for Paul Baker on the far post to knock back into the path of Denny Khan who headed in.

Khan got his second six minutes later, turning three players before curling an effort into the top corner.

And four minutes later Lee Webb made it 3-1 from a Baker cross into the box.

In the dying seconds Wilkes got his first goal for two years, slotting home a Simon Stevens cross from 12 yards.

RESULT: HOLKER OB...1 DARWEN...4