DARWEN survived a late Cheadle fightback to claim victory and continue their fine NWCL Division Two form.

With recent wins against high-fliers Bacup Borough and Maine Road to their name the visitors looked high in confidence and took the lead as early as the third minute after Dennis Hill nipped in before the keeper to convert a Steve Wilkes centre.

Andy Walsh then had a header cleared off the line before Mark Westhead latched on to a handling error from keeper David Raynor to double his side's advantage.

A minute into the second half Westhead struck again to make it three yet Steve Ellwell replied for the Greater Manchester side almost immediately.

Hill grabbed his second of the game on the hour after racing onto a long ball out of defence, however Cheadle's Phil Mogardo netted twice in ten minutes to leave the game on a knifedge.

Walsh then missed a penalty - his first failure in two years - after Westhead was upended in the box, yet Darwen clung on to take the three points despite prolonged Cheadle pressure.

CHEADLE TOWN...3 DARWEN...4