Darwen moved back to third spot in the North West Counties Football League, Division Two, with their first away win of the season at New Mills.

Darwen were out of the blocks very early and took the lead in the fifth minute.

A break down the left saw Brian Fogarty cross to Darwen captain Stuart Telfer. Telfer controlled the ball and passed to Steve Shackleton, who in turn lashed his shot across the New Mills keeper and low into the net.

Two minutes later, the home side came close with a 20-yard drive from Alford that was only a yard above the Darwen crossbar and after 12 minutes a pass from McGill to McDonald was hit on the turn from the edge of the penalty area past the diving Darwen keeper to bring the game level.

New Mills' injury problems started to give Darwen the upper hand, and when Telfer was fouled on the edge of the New Mills area in the 44th minute, the resulting free kick was beautifully curled into the top left hand corner of the goal by Paddy Lauber, to give the away side a 2-1 lead at half time.

Darwen started the second half where they left off the first, and a 30-yard screamer by Telfer rattled the New Mills crossbar and bounced onto the goal line.

Keeper Boyle scrambled the ball away, but only to Lee Stott, whose return shot was somehow cleared off the line again by the home defence.

On the hour, one of the home side's long balls appeared to hit Power's arm and the referee eventually pointed to the spot.

But the strike was poor, straight at the Darwen keeper, and Holland pushed the ball away to safety.

Another great run down the right and cross by Richard Fogarty was scrambled away by the home defence, and Darwen corner four minutes later was met by Power but he put hsi effort wide.

Two more long range shot by Telfer were well saved by Boyle, and another great cross from Ricky Fogarty just missed the head of Shackleton.

Another late move saw both Fogartys in action.

A cross from Ricky to the far post found brother Brian, but the angle was too acute, and he fired the ball over the bar.

A last desperate long ball by New Mills from a free kick just inside the halfway line was tipped over the bar by Holland, the resulting corner being cleared and Darwen clung onto the points.