Men's: Barclay’s winner seals The Greens’ future
9:08am Friday 21st March 2008
A DOUBLE-header wrapped up Kendal's North West League Division Five programme at the weekend. A win over Wigan on Saturday ensured The Greens safety irrespective of a draw with Southport on the Sunday.
Kendal............................. 2 Wigan................................1 WIGAN were seeking points to ease relegation fears and played like men possessed, but Kendal ended the frantic goalless opening when Martin Boyd's pass found Ollie Thorman, who raced forward into the 25 and crossed for Steve Barclay to thump home.
Kendal found themselves pinned back for the remainder of the first half, but with a fiercely committed Wigan unable to convert any penalty corners, the score remained 1-0 at half time.
A dream start to the second half brought a welcome second goal for Kendal, Liam Dreome skipping through several tackles to slip a ball into the D, where Barclay's clever shot was deflected in, his 25-goal tally equalling that of skipper Ewan Galloway.
A diving save from keeper Andy Blockley only deferred a Wigan goal and at 2-1 the result was back in the balance. A three-on-one breakaway seemed to offer Kendal the opportunity they sought and Nick Davis's delayed shot was heading wide when it hit a defender's foot. Davis's penalty corner was stopped similarly and the keeper saved the penalty flick. An enthralling game ended when Wigan hit the post from a penalty corner and Bockley saved the rebound.
Southport 1st....................6 Kendal 1st.........................6 AT RELEGATED Southport, Kendal let in five goals without reply in the first half. Galloway rallied his men at the interval and they came out in the second half to earn a 6-6 draw, the skipper bagging four goals and others coming from Gordon Blunt and Andrew Smith.
Blackburn..........................1 Windermere....................10 BOTTOM of the table Blackburn provided fourth placed Windermere with their last North West Division 6 opposition of the season and, not surprisingly were beaten 10-1 in a contest as one-sided as the final scoreline.
Everyone in the Windermere team apart from goalkeeper Andrew Darling had a shot at goal and, if the Blackburn goalkeeper had not been in good form, the score would have been much bigger.
Already relegated, nine-man Blackburn were forced to concede most of the possession and, when they did fend off attacks, Windermere were able to recycle the ball at will and drive forward again without too much hindrance.
Mike Hodgson opened Windermere's account, Scott Santamera scored from a rebound, Dan Prentice added a third and Chris Goodchild finished an Ashley Chadwick pass for a fourth goal that effectively sealed the result well before half-time. Blackburn defied the maroon tide by pulling a goal back but Chadwick and Goodchild then took the halfway score to 6-1.
After the restart Will Dolman got his reward for intelligent movement in the D with another well taken goal, skipper Dominic Quill got in on the act at a short corner before Goodchild and midfielder Matt Hartnett completed the home side's scoring.
The match was sponsored by Richard Dawson and this weekend sees Windermere in home action again against a touring team from Lytham as they continue their preparation for the Cumbria Cup weekend.