TEN-man Darwen dug deep into their reserves of energy to earn a battling point against Leek CSOB on Saturday – but were left to rue a host of shocking refereeing decisions, including an unjust red card for Martin Parker, as their chances of victory were wrecked by the officials.

Referee Derek Brannick was at the centre of most of the attention and assistant Nicola Curran was not far behind in the headline-grabbing as she struggled to keep up with play and gave a display that suggested she has been promoted into a position too advanced for her abilities.

So when the pair combined to discuss whether Parker was the last man after Leek striker Oliver Edwards spectacularly went down on the edge of the area just after the interval, there could only be one outcome.

But the gleefully brandished red card failed to take into account the small matter that Parker had taken the ball cleanly – and had Curran been up with play, she could have over-ruled the senior official.

As it was, Darwen were up against it but managed to take the lead as sub Matthew Ginley found space in a congested penalty area and headed home an Anthony Harkness free-kick with 15 minutes remaining.

But Darwen then dozed and William Brown headed his side level five minutes later as leek finally found a way past goalkeeper Adam Chester.

Chester had saved well from Anthony Tarr in the first-half as Leek struck on the counter attack after the first 15 minutes had been played pretty much in their half.

And made two more excellent point-blank saves as the Staffordshire outfit looked to turn the screw in the minutes following Parker’s dismissal.

But it was Chester’s opposite number Robert Hackney who was top of the stoppers just before the interval as he tremendously pushed a Harkness free-kick to safety and from the resulting corner tipped over a rocket from Keil Lonsdale.

Lee Turner hit the bar late on for Darwen as they looked to claim an unlikely win, while Brannick waved away late plausable penalty appeals when Turner was upended by Michael Meszaros, who himself should have walked before the break as only a nasty bang to the head saved him a second booking for a late, late lunge.

But Darwen are finding their feet back at Vodkat level and will grow from strength to strength as the weeks pass by – just as long as they don’t run into Brannick and company every week.