STEETON recorded a third straight victory, extending their undefeated streak to six games, with an impressive 3-0 home win against eight-placed North West Counties Football League First Division North side Darwen on Saturday.

Striking late in the first half to break the deadlock, Roy Mason’s side followed the goal with a dominant second-half performance which blew their opponents off the park and kept them within touching distance of the top five, just nine points away from the play-off spots.

In an even first half, it was the two goalkeepers who appeared to be coming out of top, as both frontlines were left frustrated by the men between the posts.

Darwen must have been wondering what more they had to do in their efforts to break the deadlock as James Catlow made a string of impressive saves early on in the Steeton goal.

And a similar question must have been crossing the minds of the home attack, as Oliver Culkin marked his debut for Darwen with a number of smart saves, including tipping two goalbound efforts out for corners.

But it was the Chevrons who broke the deadlock five minutes before the break.

Josh Walne showed great positional awareness to keep the ball in play and send it through the air towards the box.

From there, Andy Briggs freed up Jordan Townend, who saw his initial effort saved by Culkin.

The midfielder managed to find his feet though, under pressure, to square the ball to Jake Townsend, the winger firing the ball into his former side's open goal to put Steeton into the lead.

The second half was all in favour of the home side, bar one good save from Catlow, as they turned the screw against Darwen, who at times proved the creators of their own downfall with sloppy play and infighting.

There was no sympathy from the home side, as they continued to push forward and pin their opposition back towards their own goal.

And the breakthrough and second goal came just four minutes after the restart.

From a corner, Steeton shifted the ball towards the right-hand side, where Josh Walne and Raeece Ellington linked up.

The latter beat the offside trap and put a teasing cross towards the near post, where Briggs got in front of his marker to tap the ball home.

It then became a case of when, and not if, the home side added to their lead as they continued to pressure the Darwen goal.

The visitors were perhaps fortunate to not end the afternoon with 10 men, with the referee only deciding to book Culkin after the keeper raced out of his goal and took Briggs down outside the area as the striker closed in on the goal.

Townend saw his resulting free-kick bend inches wide of the post, before a covering defender's block denied Ellington after the Kashmir international rounded the keeper and got a shot in on goal.

The green wave continued to push forward, with Culkin pulling off two good saves to deny Townsend and Townend.

The third goal eventually came with five minutes left to go.

Ellington played an outstanding through ball to send his Briggs through on goal, who needed no second invitation to finish beneath the keeper to wrap up the three points.

His brace in this game means the Steeton skipper has now netted a remarkable 28 goals this season.

Steeton will be looking to continue their fine run of form this evening away at mid-table AFC Blackpool.