MATCH REPORT | Darwen 4-3 FC St Helens: Creech hat-trick sees dramatic late defeat for the champions

Report and images by Liam McDermott

A day that began with Leon Creech on 18 goals for the campaign ended with him having 21 to his name, as Darwen got the better of FC St Helens in a thriller.

A breathless first-half packed full of goals saw the hosts take the lead inside a minute – thanks to Akim Samms racing beyond the FC St Helens backline, before showing the desired composure to beat Joe Mason.

With that, The Stripes required a positive response and wouldn’t have to wait too long to reveal it.

Kieran Curtis’ stupendous, pinpoint pass reaped the rewards – with Tom Scarborough beautifully receiving it, before impudently lobbing the onrushing goalkeeper.

Mike Smith’s champions had momentum on their side and, looking for a swift turnaround, Connor Spiers’ wonderful skill and perseverance very nearly resulted in him forcing a defensive error – before later hitting the side-netting with a thunderous, angled drive.

However, football doesn’t always go according to plan and that was displayed here – with Creech adding to his tally for the campaign, with a fine finish from a ball over the top.

Such has been the case with FC St Helens this season, though, that they never surrender or seem to know when they are beaten – and Scarborough was in the thick of the action again, to win a penalty that Curtis duly dispatched.

Oftentimes, high-scoring first-halves are let down by drab displays after the break – but this wasn’t one of those days.

However, it was an unforgettable day for Creech, who doubled his tally by tapping into an unguarded net – following some hard work from Max Cane.

And the frontman must’ve seen the match ball coming home with him – but that chance proved to be too soon, as Mason denied him when one-on-one.

He’ll have been particularly disheartened when he saw opposing forward Ryan Woods, who’s played the bulk of his season’s football for FC St Helens’ Reserves, slot home after some great graft from Ste Ashton.

Where that looked to have put a dampener on Creech’s day, what he did next most certainly put a dampener on a remarkable season for FC St Helens – with his half-volley at the death securing all three points for the home side and his second hat-trick of the campaign against the table-toppers.

Where The Stripes will feel disappointed by that defeat, at least they have the opportunity to earn some additional silverware in their Champions Cup clash at Brocton, next week.