PREVIEW | Darwen vs FC St Helens: The Stripes look to end superb season with another win

Preview by Liam McDermott | Images by Mark Gambles and Darren Greenall

FC St Helens’ remarkable title-winning campaign comes to an end, almost nine months after it began – with Mike Smith’s sensational Stripes travelling to Darwen for the second time in as many fixtures, having lost to Euxton Villa on Easter Monday.

What happened, last time?

The corresponding league fixture was played at almost the opposite end of the campaign – just six games in.

FC St Helens’ battling and tenacious perseverance has been a reoccurring fixture of the season, which was emphasised in that meeting – as Joe Barker’s immediate response to an equaliser saw them come out on top, in a 2-1 home victory.

Just two months later, however, Darwen would have a response of their own, with Leon Creech’s hat-trick ensuring that The Stripes were uncharacteristically beaten by an emphatic scoreline – with a 4-1 defeat seeing them bow out of The Edward Case Cup.

FC St Helens:

This fixture will conclude an unforgettable chapter in FC St Helens’ brief history, with the NWCFL First Division North trophy being theirs to keep.

They fell short to Euxton Villa last time out and will be hoping that will prove to be a minor bump in the road – as they attempt to sign off with a stylish display, in this one.

Darwen:

Darwen’s previous three fixtures have had goals in abundance, with a 3-3 draw against Route One Rovers being followed by them winning 5-2 and losing 5-3, respectively.

With that, they too will have intentions of putting on a show for their final match of a campaign that currently sees them in a respectable ninth-place.

Ones to watch:

FC St Helens – Tom Scarborough

In a season when the entire squad has shone brightly, Scarborough’s performances haven’t been an exception in his second campaign with The Stripes.

With added maturity, skill, determination and composure to his game, Scarborough has most certainly earned his medal, with those performances being merited by the equaliser in the match that eventually saw his side confirm their title win.

Darwen – Leon Creech

With goals aplenty at both the right and wrong ends of the pitch, Darwen have established themselves as one of the most entertaining sides in the league, this season.

Amongst those scoring at the right end, Creech has 18 to his tally in all competitions – including that aforementioned hat-trick, when the sides last met.

If the season beforehand has been anything to go by, this could very well have the makings of something special.