Chadderton 1 Darwen 2

AFTER two years without a goal, assistant manager Matt Atkinson scored two in three second half minutes minutes to earn Darwen three points at Andrew Street.

Player-boss Steve Wilkes was delighted with his side after he celebrated his first ever success over the Manchester side in his four years at the Anchor.

Neither side created much on a tricky surface in a tight first half.

Darwen's best chance fell to Paul Curley but his lob from 20 yards flew the wrong side of the post.

But it was the home side who took the lead on 23 minutes when a mistake by Jimmy Khan let in Chris Spurling and Rick Wild headed home his cross at the far post.

Spurling grazed the bar with another effort before the break but it was the Anchormen who turned up the heat in the second half despite losing Wilkes with a knee injury on 50 minutes.

Atkinson bagged his first on 65 minutes with a brilliant header from Curley's corner.

And he then repeated the dose in identical fashion with another bullet header three minutes later after the referee over-ruled a linesman's flag.

Chadderton, who have only lost twice in the league since Christmas, mounted a strong finish.

But the nearest they came to an equaliser was a shot from Colin Bennett which struck the post.

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