DARWEN kicked off the new campaign with a five-star show which blew away Tetley Walker at The Anchor.

And the home side could have inflicted further damage but for a string of stunning saves from Tetley keeper Lee Medland.

Inspired by impressive debutantes Lee Slater and Scott Derbyshire, the Anchormen carved open the visitors at will and Steve Wilkes' men should have been three up inside the opening 12 minutes.

Steve Lynch had a shot cleared off the line before Medland then made fine stops to deny both Lynch and Slater.

But they broke the deadlock after 21 minutes when Denny Khan marked his return from Bacup Borough with an inviting cross and Slater stroked a shot under the keeper.

A stunning move which swept the length of the pitch finished up with Lynch firing past the keeper from a narrow angle to make it 2-0 after 30 minutes.

And Jimmy Khan curled home the third from a quickly taken free kick on the hour.

The visitors had their only chance of the game soon after following a defensive mix up but Lee Purvis denied John Woods with a smart save.

The Anchormen added a fourth, though, when Paul Baker teed-up fellow substitute Mick Lynch.

And Steve Lynch made it five from the penalty spot with 10 minutes left after Anthony Keefe was felled in the box.

Manager Steve Wilkes said: "It's a great start and I couldn't have asked any more from the lads.

"But they were a poor side so I'm not getting carried away and tomorrow's game against Colne should be more of a test."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.