FENISCOWLES suffered their first defeat of the season against fellow 'exiles' Darwen Anchor in a real blood and thunder clash.

Both sides, the only clubs in the area to play in the Bolton league, played the match at a frantic pace and produced some quality football - as well as the odd bone-crunching tackle or two.

Defeat for Feniscowles, who were joint top going into the match, has dented their title hopes while a second successive win against higher opposition for fifth-placed Darwen means that they cannot be counted out just yet.

Darwen were first to get into their stride and Joe Huxley went close with long range free kick then Fenny keeper Andy Moore produced a fine one-handed save to keep out a shot from impressive winger Paul Gardner.

The home team responded well and forced Darwen's keeper Steve Brown into action when he saved well from Chris Brown when he was clean through on goal.

Brown then shot narrowly wide after some good play by Danny Gorton. And the Darwen keeper then had to be alert to hold on to a free kick from Matt Strahan.

The match threatened to boil over when Gorton and Andrew Eccles exchanged heated words and Gorton was then involved with Huxley.

But is soon blew over and if anything it added spice to the occasion.

Gorton then showed the better side of his game when his floated free kick fell to Brown in the area who hit the post but Joe Anderson was hand on to fire home the rebound.

At that stage, Feniscowles could have run away with as they were enjoying far more of the possession but Darwen were a threat on the counter attack.

And just before the break from one such attack that resulted in a corner, Anthony Pickup swung the ball in, Matt Pollitt touched it on and Chris Dickinson scored from close range.

After the break the match opened up.

Darwen's captain Jonathan Carus set off on a mazy run and passed to Pollitt whose snap shot flashed wide. Then Feniscowles captain Anthony Green came to the rescue with a sliding tackle after Stephen Douglas appeared to be through on goal.

Darwen then took the lead when Ben Callum turned the ball into his own net after running on to Pickup's wonderful first time cross.

It went from bad to worse for Feniscowles when Pollitt was bundled over in the box by Green and the tall striker picked himself up to cooly convert from the spot.

With defeat now a distinct possibility, Feniscowles went on the attack in search for a goal to get back in the game.

And they were handed a life line when Damian Tabbinor fouled Anderson in the area and Lee Sargeson scored the resulting penalty.

While Fenny frantically searched for an equaliser, the better chances fell to Darwen on breakaway raids and Moore was called into action when he saved Pickup's drive at the foot of the post. Feniscowles then had a penalty appeal turned down before Pickup and Douglas managed to miss an open goal between them at the other end.

It was the final piece of action in a pulsating clash.

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