DEAN Overson has provided a welcome boost for Kendal Town as the centre back looks set to return to the Black and Whites for another month.

He impressed during his initial loan spell from Bradford City, and he should be back at Parkside Road providing a few extra details can be sorted out between the clubs.

But he is not guaranteed a position in the starting line-up as new signing Adam Freeland produced a solid display alongside Kevin Brown in central defence in the 3-2 loss to Marine on Saturday.

With Paul Alexander leaving to re-join former Kendal Town manager Lee Ashcroft at Northwich Victoria, Freeland was snapped up from AFC Blackpool after impressing during a training session last week. Freeland also played under boss Steve Edmondson at Ambleside United.

And in another boost to the Black and Whites defence, James Short has signed on a month’s loan from Morecambe.

The left back and left midfielder is rated highly by the League Two club’s manager Jim Bentley, and earlier this season Short completed a month’s loan with Lancaster City.

He will be a direct replacement for Tom Berwick, who returns to parent club Carlisle United along with striker Alex Salmon.

Carlisle want the duo back for around a month but Town expect the players to return to Parkside Road from the end of February for the remainder of the season.

Goalkeeper and captain Craig Dootson is also expected to be in the squad for this Saturday having recovered from his groin injury, but Edmondson warned that he would not be guaranteed a starting place after Ryan Robinson produced a couple of superb displays in the defeats to North Ferriby United and Marine.

“We have two very good goalkeepers and it’s good competition for places. That’s what we need and we’re trying to build a squad where players that are in the team know they need to perform otherwise they could get replaced.

“I was bitterly disappointed with the loss to Marine - we had all the play in the first half and some silly defending for a mad 15 minutes has meant that we’ve come away with nothing.

“We’ll take the positives from the game but we have to start turning those positives into points. If we can get a bit of lady luck and cut out these errors then we’ll be ok.

“It’s good to see a crowd coming back to Parkside Road and the fans have been very patient. It’s very helpful to the lads when they’re playing in front of a decent number of people and if the fans can bear with us hopefully we’ll reward them with some good results.”

Kendal Town are scheduled to travel to Blyth Spartans today but with a poor weather forecast showing freezing temperatures and snow for the North East of England for the rest of the week, the game is unlikely to go ahead.

If that is the case, Town hope to arrange a friendly on a 3G pitch at Dallam.

Meanwhile, the Doodson Sport Cup second round match between Curzon Ashton and Burscough was cancelled last Monday night.

The winner will face Kendal Town in the third round of the competition, and had been scheduled to take place this Monday or Tuesday night.

But the Black and Ambers will now have no midweek match as Curzon Ashton and Burscough take each other on this Monday night, weather permitting.