DARWEN 0 ALSAGER 4 IT was a game of two halves for Darwen as four second half goals condemned them to a heavy home defeat and hampered their bid for a late charge up the NWCL Division Two table.

After a battling first 45 minutes, where Lee Slater and Anthony Keefe both had good chances, Alsager sealed the points with three quick goals after the break.

Darwen were 1-0 down 30 seconds after the restart when Andy Walsh headed a long free kick into his own goal.

Neil Rhodes then conceded a penalty which was converted by Gareth Rowe.

And keeper Lee Purvis completed a catalogue of errors when he failed to hold on to another free kick which was stabbed home by Wayne Brotherton.

Rowe grabbed his second and Alsager's fourth after 60 minutes.

And Darwen's fate was compounded in the last minute when Mark Isherwood was sent off.