Train (Manc-Blackburn) = £10-10
Entry = £5
Programme = £1-50
Tea = £1
Pasty = £3-99
Water = 45p
Total = £22-04
Darwen is one of the 'final' non league grounds I've to see in Lancashire, and is one of the trickiest to reach by public transport. Three trains to Blackburn and a long walk would take me there today. I've been to Blackburn only once before, when we'd amazingly managed to get Liverpool tickets for their 3-2 win in 2012. I'd not seen much of the town then, so was curious to see what was there as I had spare time before KO. I found Blackburn to be a strange hotchpotch of different architectures, cultures and contrasts. I found a classic car display near the centre, and fell into conversation with a chap from Wigan who was visiting for the day. He was enthusiastic about cars, technology, and graphite and was telling me about how amazing technology was these days. I managed to get directions to the cathedral, where there was some kind of festival under-way. The cathedral evidently had a modern wing, with some older parts.
I ambled away from the town centre towards Darwen, passing down a street full of kebab shops and takeaways, Blackburn Ice Arena and then a clone shopping centre. I then passed Ewood Park on the left, and couldn't resist a couple of snaps of the empty ground.
Darwen's wonderfully named Anchor Ground lived up to my expectations. Next to the turnstile was an impressive set of gates with the club name on the top. The ground had one long seated stand on the near side, which adjoined the refreshment hut and bar. That end of the pitch was bedecked in green and white union jacks, marking the presence of the well supported 1874 Northwich. As I took my obligatory pre match photo the groundsman asked where I was from. I explained that I had come from Sheffield, but was actually a groundhopper - he seemed a bit confused when he heard my southern accent to throw into the mix.
The first half was gritty and fast, but with few real chances of note. Inside the opening 5-10 minutes, Northwich looked like they had scored when a header from a corner seemed to cross the line before being cleared away by a desperate defender. Darwen then somewhat fortuitously took the lead when Coote fired down a volley into the ground from the left side of the box. Their left back then forced a tip around the post, and Coote missed a fantastic chance when an away defender blocked his shot on the line. The Northwich keeper then missed a back pass, but the striker was so surprised that he missed it too!
The second half was more eventful, and began when Darwen's Gaul cut inside to force a save, before Kirk's drive flew just over. Then Darwen made it two when a fantastic passing interchange on the left between Coote and Hepple somehow threaded the ball through to Gaul who slotted home cooly. Cracking goal. But this is non-league and moments like that are matched by absurd moments. Barely a minute had passed before Northwich were somehow back in the game when a free kick appeared to deflect in off a Darwen hand. No one seemed to care though! As the away side poured forwards, tempers began to fray. Darwen's Lonsdale was booked for a late sliding tackle on Northwich's Kirk. The chances continued to come, with Coote's header flying a matter of inches wide, whilst Brandon saw a similar opportunity fly by the post. The away fans were berating the referee at this point - one of the best lines was 'you're as much use as a chocolate fireguard'.
Then as with the Bacup game two weeks ago, things spilled over. Darwen's Hepple left the Northwich centre back clutching his side on the floor, sparking a mini-melee involving all the players. In the ensuing fracas, Northwich's Kirk received a straight red (presumably for a violent act?) and the away manager was sent to the stand. Once all this was done, there was still time for Northwich's 14 to run through, only to be foiled by a fantastic reaction save. Then in a move reminiscent of Torres vs Barcelona, Darwen ran clear, with the ball eventually swept in by Prince. 3-1, and although Northwich could feel a little aggrieved, Darwen deserve some credit for the grit with which they applied themselves in the second period.
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