Last week's defeat to promotion rivals Girvan left Darvel needing their closest challengers to slip up during the remaining league fixtures/ and it might have been expected that the players would see this as a meaningless match with third place in the league virtually assured.
The healthy travelling support suggested that, despite last week's disappointing performance and result, the club still enjoy significant backing.
The same support must have wondered what was happening in the first forty five minutes as it was Annbank who dominated, playing some very attractive football, with ex Darvel favourites Ernie McCreadie and Gordon Wilson pulling all the strings, while the visitors were unable to make any impact on the proceedings.
Managers often claim they can do nothing to change a game once the players are on the park and that may be true, but boss Scott Clelland worked some magic at half-time as it was an entirely different team who emerged for the second period.
From the re-start, Annbank moved the ball forward and after the move broke down Darvel had a sweeping move when the ball was passed quickly down the right side of the park where Jordan Ryan played in his striking partner Geg Vernon, who made no mistake to give his side the lead.
From that point there was only going to be one winner , and two goals from the irrepressible Murray Johnston and a second from Vernon was no more than the Valley side deserved, and it could have been more.
This result was achieved without Dougie Robertson , Kenny Parris and Jackson Biggar, and goalscorers apart, the outstanding performance of the day was produced by Mark Gilmour playing at left back.

Darvel travel to Ardeer on Wednesday 27th with a 6.45 kick off and have a free Saturday on the 1st of May.

Thanks to the Boswell Arms in Auchinleck for their generous support.