DARWEN secured a place in the last four of the Division Two Trophy with a well-earned victory over Castleton Gabriels at Butterworth Park.

The visitors started brightly and experienced striker Paul Baker rose to head home from a Daniel Stubberfield centre after just five minutes.

Stubberfield then wasted a glorious opportunity to score himself and Darwen had a joint shout for a goal and a penalty waved away before Baker tucked away his second of the game from another Stubberfield cross on 26 minutes.

Shortly into the second half Micky Bartholomew pulled one back for the hosts against the run of play after a mix-up between Matt Anderton and his keeper Lee Kennedy, however Darwen were quick to restore their advantage thanks to a Paul Brown header.

Stubberfield twice failed to make the most of a clear run on goal and Bartholomew once again clawed his side back into the game with a strike from a quick free kick from Graham Hicks.

To continue his nightmare in front of goal, Stubberfield failed to convert from three yards and Baker also had two efforts from the right saved by Castleton stopper Mark Canning.

Steve Wilkes' side finished the game off with the move of the match which saw Lee Webb add the finish to fine interplay from Stubberfield, Neil Almond and Ben Jackson.

CASTLETON GABRIELS...2

DARWEN...4