The hosts entered the game as the form team in the division but went in at half time trailing to Dominik Williams 25th minute strike for Heys and having seen Ben Langford sent off shortly after.

Indeed, Heys were good value for their lead, having enjoyed the better of a largely untidy half on a windy Lancastrian afternoon.

However, hopes Heys would kick on and build on their previous weeks victory at Steeton proved unfounded. Darwen played with more energy and enthusiasm in the second half to come back and take the points through two Leon Creech goals.

It was the second successive away game that Heys had thrown away an interval lead following the defeat at Daisy Hill which saw the reign of Jon Lyons come to an end and Matt Barnes take the helm. However, some of the failings were strikingly familiar which Barnes will be looking to eradicate in the weeks ahead as the rebuilding of the squad continues at Adie Moran Park.

The Heys boss will have been largely happy with what he saw in the first half as his side were the quicker to settle with Alfie Belcher going close with a free kick.

Heys enterprise paid off in the 25th minute when they took the lead. A break down the right saw Williams break into the box and his low shot took a deflection past the keeper on its way into the net, giving the full back his first goal in a Heys shirt.

Two minutes later, Heys hopes were boosted further when Darwen were reduced to ten men when a full-blooded challenge by Langford on Nathan Emery was met by a red card by the match official.

Looking to capitalise, Heys had two good chances to increase their lead. Firstly a 40th minute, Oliver Hatfield- Banton free kick caused problems in the Darwen area with the ball breaking to Adrian Bellamy but his close-range effort went wide.

On the stroke of half time, a great run and cross by Belcher caused more concern for the hosts and when the ball found the returning Greg Wills, his shot cleared the bar.

Heys Man of the Match Rio Wilson-Heyes saw a shot blocked on the restart as they looked to build on their first half momentum, but it was soon apparent they were up against a different Darwen side in this half.

The hosts were the hungrier side, winning the fifty-fifty challenges and forcing Heys into errors. Creech broke through the defence in the 55th minute but shot straight at Russell Saunders and when, on the hour, the duo met again the outcome was different.

As Heys defence was breached again, Saunders dashed out to close but succeeded only in bringing Creech down for a penalty which the striker gleefully slotted home.

Although Wilson-Heyes threatened for Heys the momentum was firmly with the home side and their endeavour was rewarded in the 71st minute as they took the lead.

A shot from the edge of the area was only parried by Saunders and following up, Creech slotted home.

Heys looked to respond but Darwen continued to be the more enterprising and although Brad Sixsmith tested the keeper late on, the hosts never looked likely to surrender their hard-earned lead.

Team: Russell Saunders, Dominik Williams, Jacob Holt (Capt), Greg Wills, Oliver Hatfield-Banton, Adrian Bellamy, Brad Sixsmith, Reece Lyndon. Rio Wilson-Heyes, Alfie Belcher, Nathan Emery Subs: Daniel Vincent, Daniel Vinten (for Wills 75 mins), Jamie Sinnott (for Williams 85 mins), Francesco Frangillo, Jordan Pendlebury (for Emery 83 mins)