After a 2 week break Kendal are right back in the thick of the action with Guiseley the visitors at Parkside Road this weekend.

Last time out Stocksbridge denied Town all 3 points to score in injury time for a 1-1 draw. The main talk over recent weeks has been the team’s failure to convert their missed opportunities, it’s funny because they are playing well but just not getting full reward for their efforts at the moment.

Ashy has added to the squad with the loan signing of Andy Bell. He was signed from Fleetwood and it’s a loan signing which has excited the crowd at Parkside Road, and by watching clips of him playing I can see why he is highly regarded at Non League level. The loans initially one that runs to December at some point, but who knows what might happen after the loan.

The test comes from this weekend as Town face a cluster of matches which will dictate where the club are likely to be for the rest of the season. The distraction of the FA Cup as good a distraction as that was has pushed the team down to 8th, with quite a few games in hand on the chasing pack. The main positives are that none of the other teams have really capitalised as the league remains as inconsistent as ever. This past Tuesday night Retford who have been in form suffered a 2-1 home reverse to Hucknall Town, FC Utd have also been struggling whilst Bradford Park Avenue had to get rid of a highly regarded manager in Lee Sinnott, to stop the rot that they were in.

So hope springs eternal for Kendal as the team that can get consistent stands a good chance of promotion. Kendal have the ability to gain that consistency, and on their day they can beat anyone in the division regardless of who it is. Hopefully with the inclusion of Andy Bell and the 2 week rest, Town can get out of the traps quickly on Saturday and hopefully start to go on a run as the race for promotion continues to heat up.

In other news Kendal Wattsfield Ladies sit joint top of The Cumbrian Woman’s League, 3 wins from 3 matches is the perfect start since the merger. They are scheduled to be at home this Sunday when they host Penrith, however with the weather being like it’s been, their could be a doubt. If it does go ahead the kick off is 11 am and all are welcome to come and watch.

It’s an exciting time for the ladies team, and the winning start proves how essential this merger was for the success of ladies football in Kendal. I hope that more come to see a very good team in action as the woman’s game doesn’t get the coverage or the attendance it deserves.