DARWEN fell to two sucker punches early in the game against one of the early NWCL Division Two pacesetters Formby and never recovered.

Despite a good start which saw Paul Baker go close for Darwen only to be denied by goalkeeper Lindon King's knee, Formby scored two in two minutes to virtually seal the win.

A long ball over the top fell to Paul Guy and with only Lee Purvis to beat he tucked it home on 18 minutes.

Two minutes later Wes Spelman played another long ball over Scott Derbyshire and Guy was there again to make it two.

Manager Steve Wilkes threw himself on in midfield as they went three at the back but it was Formby who made the impact next. Guy broke found Mark Wilson who slotted it past Purvis.

Darwen then scored the goal of the game when Lee Webb found the back of the net from 30 yards out and Wilkes knew it wasn't to be his side's night when his struck a fierce shot which hit his own player Mark Heys in the face - and Heys had to go off.

There were more chances for the home side, Matt Anderton. Baker and Andy Walsh all going close and Formby were reduced to ten men when Neil Smith was sent off for foul and abusive language with 15 minutes on the clock.

But, as Darwen pressed, Formby broke on the left through Guy and Wilson headed home to make it a flattering scoreline for the visitors. "To be honest our defence was shocking, except Matt Anderton. We weren't at the races but it was just one of those days," said Wilkes.

RESULT: DARWEN...1 FORMBY...4