DARWEN twice let a lead slip from their grasp as they were pegged back to a 2-2 draw at NWCL Division Two high-fliers Maine Road.

Boss Steve Wilkes gave debuts to Steve Pickup, Ben Jackson, Paul Brown, Andy Hays and Lee Kennedy and all had an eventful game wearing Darwen colours for the first time.

Hays' delight at being named in the starting line-up was short-lived as he limped off with a twisted ankle after only 15 minutes.

Ten minutes later and the visitors were 1-0 up thanks to a cracking 25-yard volley from Daniel Stubberfield.

However, it was soon all-square as Chris Simms latched on to a cross that eluded Pickup to head the ball past Darwen keeper Kennedy.

Jackson fired his side back in front with a back post finish in the second half, yet Steven Wright scored with a near post header from a corner by his namesake Jerome.

The game then petered out for a draw and Wilkes said: "While it's disappointing to let leads slip, I would have taken a point before the game as Maine Road are a decent side."

MAINE ROAD...2 DARWEN...2