Player-manager Dennis Hill made more changes to the Darwen line-up and he was rewarded as the Salmoners ran out winners in this five-goal thriller.

Early in the game, Darwen captain Matt Anderton tested Goodwin in goal with a 35-yard drive, which whistled by the post.

And, after half an hour, Dean Clarke beat the Norton offside and attempted a lob over Goodwin, but the keeper made a great leap to fist the ball away for a corner.

On 35 minutes, Louis Wilkes beat two Norton defenders to slide the ball through to Dean Clarke, but his swift turn and shot was smartly saved by Goodwin.

The home side went ahead with five minutes of the first half to go, as a run down the left-wing by Dunn, and low cross into the Darwen box, ended up at the feet of Allen, who netted from five yards.

A 30-yard drive by Dale Bullen forced Goodwin into another good save, and Calum Heneghan had to save a strike from Allen with his knees.

Five minutes into the second-half saw some good inter-passing by Dunn and Hughes, which ended with a Hughes chip just clearing the Darwen cross-bar.

But, 10 minutes later, they levelled the scores. Bullen received the ball down the left-wing and raced towards the Norton Box. As Goodwin came out to narrow the angle, Bullen chipped the keeper and the ball floated into the net.

And the visitors took the lead five minutes later through Matt Woods.

And with 10 minutes of the match remaining, the Salmoners increased their lead.

A right to left cross-field ball found Bullen in space, and he again chipped the advancing Goodwin to put the ball into the top right hand corner of the net.

The home side stepped up the pressure in the last few minutes and were rewarded for their efforts as Allen powered a header into the net from a Williams cross.