DARWEN'S white-hot league form came to an end after they played out a goalless home draw with local rivals Nelson.

Having hit the net no less than 17 times in their last four NWCL Division Two outings, no-one would have bet on the home side's first stalemate of the season - not least manager Steve Wilkes.

"I must admit we don't experience many 0-0s and in truth there should have been a few goals in this one," he said.

"We bossed the game in the first half hour without really putting their keeper to the test. Credit to Nelson, they came back at us and Lee Purvis pulled off some great saves and on the whole I think a draw was a fair result."

In the opening period Darwen's Denny Khan blazed over the bar after a cross from Mark Westhead who in turn had a goal-bound shot blocked by a Blues defender.

Moments before the break Darwen suffered a double blow as Jimmy Khan tore a hamstring after bringing down Nelson striker Carl Haworth in the area, however Lee Purvis dived to his right to brilliantly divert Andy Haworth's resulting spot-kick over the bar.

The second half was evenly poised with neither side able to take their

chances. Purvis was once again the Darwen hero after blocking two one-on-ones while Khan emerged as the villain after failing to hit the target with two guilt-edged opportunities.

This was new Nelson manager Denis Underwood's first game in charge and he will have been disappointed not to take the chance of three vital points.

DARWEN...0 NELSON...0