Eight goals,three of them penalties,a possible sending off,goalscoring chances and a referee who had to be replaced through injury.It's not very often you get that in 98minutes of football.

Darwen's Gaul fired the first salvo in this North West Counties League First Division Play-Off Final at AFC Darwen's Anchor Road Ground after 2minutes firing in a 22yard freekick around the wall which Town keeper Dane Jackson parried away. But it was Hanley who took the lead on 5minutes through a penalty and what could have been interpreted has a sending off, a Bell through ball sent Leigh Skellern clean through on goal Skellern flicked the ball passed the onrushing Darwen keeper Keeper Holden who collided into Skellern denying him a clear run and tap in into a empty net,referee Herzog awarded the penalty but kept the red card in his pocket.Theo Stair fired the spot kick into the bottom corner of the net for his 44th goal of the season.

Darwen were level on 18minutes a Steele pass found Turner unmarked 12yards from goal his low shot was turned around the post by Town keeper Jackson but from the resulting corner from the right Mckenna rose highest to head down into the net.On 21minutes an Evans pass found Skellern just inside the Darwen's penalty area only to shoot just wide of the target.Two minutes later a Bell crossfield pass found Stair on the right corner of the Darwen penalty area his control a layoff found the onrushing Malbon whose 15yard effort went inches passed the Darwen's right upright.

On 27minutes Darwen had a good chance of their own a freekick from the right played into the Hanley penalty area which was met by the unmarked Mckenna who headed over the Town crossbar from 8yards.But three minutes later they did take the lead with a dubious penalty decision when Town defender Evans slid across to prevent a Steele run and cross down the left side of the penalty where Steele went down fairly easily with Evans sliding along the side of Steele and not across him the referee though awarded a penalty,Steele fired home the penalty.On 34minutes Darwen almost went 3-1 in front another freekick was played into the Town penalty area which was met by head of Gaul at the back post 8yards from goal only to see it brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Hanley keeper Dane Jackson.

On 43minutes a Stair corner from the left was met by Mick Morton whose diving header at the near post flashed across the SDarwen goal and wide of the far post.Two minutes later a Skellern pass found Stair who fired low from 18yards only for Darwen keeper Holden to get down well and save.

Half-Time - AFC Darwen 2 Hanley Town 1

An amazing start to the second half saw three goals in the first five minutes.

First on 46minutes Hanley were caught napping,a quick Darwen freekick 22yards from goal was played to the unmarked Gaul who drilled a 15yard angled shot across Town keeper Jackson and into the far corner of the net.Within a minute Hanley should have reduced the deficit a superb Skellern cross from the left found the unmarked Malbon 8yards from goal but somehow placed his header inches the wrong side of the Darwen post.

Hanley did pull one back a minute later a Skellern flick found Mick Morton free 15yards out his shot somehow squirmed through the Darwen keeper Holden's grasp.Incredibly Hanley drew level two minutes later a poor clearance by Darwen dropped for Morton to flick over the Darwen defence and with Darwen's no4 playing Skellern onside Leigh Skellern half-volleyed over the keeper into the net.

Hanley now were beginning to put pressure on the Darwen defence Swetnam cut in from the left to fire wide from 22yards and Town were forcing Darwen into hurried clearances out of defence and just has the monentum was building from Hanley a 10minute break with referee Michael Herzog having to be replaced through injury by the fourth official after colliding with a Darwen player.

It what Darwen needed has they regrouped and 2minutes minutes later went 4-3 in front when Darwen's Steele slammed home his and Darwen's second penalty. On 77minutes a Stair corner from the right found Malbon whose 10yard goalbound header was deflected for a corner.But Darwen made the game safe has the game moved into injury time a quick breakaway a ball across the Hanley 18yard line found Steele on his own his first effort from 15yards was brilliantly saved by Town keeper Jackson but Steele slid in to fire home the rebound from close range.

Congatulations to AFC Darwen on their promotion to the NWCFL Premier Division.Hanley Town will have to go again next season in what will be another tough season in the First Division.

Full-Time - AFC Darwen 5 Hanley Town 3

ATT:842

Hanley Town:Team;
D.Jackson,C.Evans(J.Stair 93),R.Swetnam,N.Ward,N.Grice,
A.Malbon,M.Morton,B.Blowers,M.Bell,
T.Stair,L.Skellern,

Subs;(not used);J.Skellern,M.Stanyer,P.Parkes,S.Mallin.