Gresley put laclustre Town on rack (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Gresley put laclustre Town on rack

8:22am Friday 14th April 2006 in

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GREAT expectations turned to bitter disappointment as Kendal turned in a hapless performance with hardly a significant shot on goal. writes Dennis Aris.

Victory would have boosted the home side to within a point of UniBond League First Division leaders Mossley, but it was Gresley's desire to stay in the play-off places which proved the greater motivation.

From the outset Town relied on hopeful balls skied forward by keeper Jams Salisbury towards prolific goalscorer and provider Ged Smith, forsaking the smooth passing football which is usually their trademark.

Few of those lofted balls fell kindly for front runners David Foster and Chris Ward who were marshalled out of the game by the strong Mossley centre-backs.

Kendal Town 0, Gresley Rovers 3

By contrast Gresley knew how to exploit the fast breaks and Salisbury was forced to make two timely tip overs in the first half.

Star man on the night was Gresley's Aaron O'Conner, the UniBond League top scorer, who threatened every time he collected the ball and headed goalwards.

Inevitably it was O'Conner who made the breakthrough on 64 minutes, darting on to a through ball from midfield, haring between Paul Rigby and Dene Whittal-Williams on the right of Kendal's defence and slamming the ball past the helpless Salisbury.

Once behind Kendal had to throw caution to the winds as they went for an equaliser.

Substitute Peter Smith at last added missing width on the right and from one of his crosses Ward headed just wide.

A dipping shot from Ged Smith appeared to be tipped over by Gresley keeper Tom Whittle, but the referee ruled that he had not made contact.

Hesketh withdrew midfielder Stuart Cliff to give his new signing Brian Dawson a run as an extra striker, but Town's defence looked increasingly vulnerable and in the 88th minute mercurial O'Conner advanced again before chipping the ball neatly to unmarked Paul Edwards who hammered in Gresley's second.

O'Conner was also the architect of the third, racing on to a long diagonal cross in the 90th minute before hitting a shot which was diverted neatly past Salisbury by Edwards to cap Kendal's miserable night.

How they rated: Salisbury 6; Rigby 5, Whittal-Williams 5, Mercer 5, Redhead 5; Kilford 5, Cliff 5 (P. Smith from 70 minutes), Osbourne 6, G. Smith 6; Foster (Dawson 5 from 65 minutes) 5, Ward 5.