9:06am Friday 20th January 2006
By Dennis Aris
RISING star Ged Smith grabbed both goals as Kendal Town came from behind to boot Bridlington Town off the top of the UniBond League First Division table.
Despite being without several key players timely strikes by left winger boosted Town to within a point of the top and with games in hand over second-placed Colwyn Bay and Bridlington who are now third.
With Town now strong championship contenders they also have home advantage when they meet new leaders Mossley on Tuesday, March 7.
Saturday's performance also emphasised Smith's own value as a goalscorer as he took his tally for the season to 13 and lifted him to eighth in the league's list of leading scorers.
Aside from Smith's contribution it was also a solid all-round performance in the absence of captain and leading scorer Lee Ashcroft, suspended key defender Paul Sparrow and injured midfielders Stuart Cliff and Ricky Mercer.
With Ashcroft's ruled troublesome groin strain still keeping him on the sidelines Town boss Tony Hesketh adopted a cautious game plan fielding a five-man midfield with Chris Ward operating as a lone striker.
Initially it was a plan which suited Kendal well as they were able to dictate the play for long periods on a glue pot of a pitch which deteriorated considerably throughout the afternoon.
The game's first goal scoring chance was a well-worked Bridlington set piece that saw striker Paul Palmer head straight at Kendal goalkeeper James Salisbury.
At the opposite end Ward's perseverance almost paid off as he successfully charged down a defensive clearance only for his effort to sail over the crossbar.
Just before the half drew to a close Smith was unfortunate to see his free-kick strike the woodwork and the two sides went into the interval goalless.
Kendal's injury crisis continued to mount when energetic right-winger John Osborne had to be replaced by Peter Smith at the start of the second half.
The home side took the lead on 67 minutes when Paul Wilson's shot found its way over the line despite Salisbury appearing to have the effort covered.
Kendal's reply was Immediate, however, as full-back Owen Roberts made a strong run down the left before delivering a perfect cross for Smith to guide a header past goalkeeper Nick Baxter and inside the post.
Further Kendal pressure followed and Smith inflicted the damage once more when he cooly slotted the ball through a crowded penalty area to score after Baxter had only parried a Roberts' free-kick.
Smith might have made it a memorable afternoon for himself, but late in the game Baxter pulled off a fine one-handed save to deny him a hat-trick Salisbury safeguarded the points at the death with an important block from Bridlington's Martin Thacker.
How they rated: Salisbury 8; Rigby 8, Whittal-Williams 8, Taylor 8, Roberts 8; J. Osborne 8 (P. Smith 8 from 58 minutes), P. Osborne 8, Kilford 8, McKenna 8, G. Smith 9; Ward 8 (Foster 5 from 88 minutes).
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