LEE Duckworth had asked beforehand for a repeat of last weekend’s performance against Maine Road.

Blues’ manager did not get that, although his side’s strong finish brought the same dividend after they scored twice in as many minutes late on.

A third successive league win was their target at in-form Squires Gate last night, Tuesday.

They made that trip buoyed by a spirited second-half showing at Darwen, where they recovered from Mark McKay’s spectacular volleyed opener shortly after the interval.

Winsford were thwarted initially by goalkeeper Daniel Jackson, who saved smartly to deny Ryan Mellor when they came face-to-face.

He repeated the trick when pushing Danny Egan’s header onto an upright.

However he could do nothing to stop Egan’s perfectly-placed free kick on 88 minutes.

Blues followed that with a match-winning goal second later when substitute Ryan Hibbert met Duckworth’s cross with a thumping header.

That had seemed an unlikely outcome during a disjointed first-half showing not helped by skipper James Rothwell’s enforced withdrawal after he suffered an injury inside five minutes.

Gareth Carson directed a header wide of goal for Darwen from Kristofer King’s free kick, while Ryan Eiselt’s well-timed tackle denied Nick Hepple in shooting stride.

Blues did not go close until Elliot Hull’s drive from distance flashed past an upright.

Instead they were grateful to goalkeeper Dale Latham, who stretched to save with his fingertips after King received a quickly-taken throw.

From the resulting corner, he blocked at close range when Hepple blasted his way with power.

Padiham visit Barton Stadium this Saturday.

After that, Winsford take on tenants 1874 Northwich on Easter Monday, kick off 3pm.

Darwen | Jackson (GK), Wedge, Kallum Banks, Lonsdale (McKenna 46), Carson, Gibson, Mark McKay, Daniel Banks, Hessian (Cunliffe 81), Hepple, King (Jack McKay 85) Subs not used Wallace, Windle Goal Mark McKay 46 Booked Mark McKay

Winsford | Latham (GK), Bayley, Duckworth, Parr, Davies, Eiselt (Hibbert 72), Rothwell (Johnson 4, Riley 80), Hull, Mellor, Egan, Hudson Subs not used Seol, Stott Goals Egan 88, Hibbert 90

Referee Michael Denton (Todmorden)

Attendance 125

Additional reporting by Bob Astles