TEN-MAN Darwen battled back from a goal down to clinch a morale-boosing win in the NWCL Division Two.

But the man sent off was top scorer Paul Baker on 15 minutes for foul and abusive language after he appealed against an off-side decision - and he could now miss 35 days at the start of next season.

"That is a huge disappointment but I have no qualms about his dismissal," said boss Steve Wilkes.

"But their players were swearing as well and the ref did nothing. I just want some consistency."

Even so he was delighted with the way his lads showed a lot of character to come back after a string of poor results.

Just three minutes after Baker's dismissal, Cheadle took the lead through Andy Noone who tapped the ball home from two yards.

Kevin Baldwin then made a great save to stop it being two.

Player-manager Wilkes then went up front with Matt Swailes and it paid off when Wilkes' free kick was flicked on by Matt Anderton and Andy Walsh bundled the ball home just before the break.

Darwen then survived a scare as Baldwin produced another top drawer save but the Anchor Ground side made it two on 55 minutes.

Anderton sent a ball down the right channel and Wilkes saw the keeper charging out and chipped it over him from 30 yards out.

They then made it a safe three when another Wilkes free kick found Walsh and John Whittaker bundled it over the line for his first goal of the season.

DARWEN...3 CHEADLE...1