A LATE Norton United equaliser denied Darwen a deserved NWCL Division Two victory.

The visitors created a number of clear cut chances after taking an early lead through a Dennis Hill cross-cum-shot, however their failure to take any of them proved costly.

"To completely dominate a game like we have done and come away with just one point is very disappointing," said Darwen boss Steve Wilkes.

"We may be unbeaten in six but that's two games on the trot now that we've dropped points when we should have won."

In the first half it was one-way traffic as Darwen looked to build on their advantage and put the game beyond sight.

Lee Webb saw an effort come back off the keeper's legs after a great move involving Andy Smith and Mark Westhead, Denny Khan put a header over the bar and at the other end Norton's only real opportunity of note fell to James Killeen who was brilliantly denied by Lee Purvis.

The second half saw Westhead go close on a number of occasions, Andy Bright fire wide when clean through and Dean Owen rattle the bar for the Stoke side.

Two minutes from time, Darwen were left to rue their earlier misses when a Purvis punch fell to Killeen whose shot took two deflections on its way into the back of the net.

NORTON UNITED...1 DARWEN...1