Kendal Town wastefulness punished as Rushall Olympic boost playoff hopes (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal Town wastefulness punished as Rushall Olympic boost playoff hopes

10:13am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

Kendal Town 0

Rushall Olympic 2

Evo-Stik Premier Division

KENDAL Town's battle against relegation took another blow while Rushall Olympic further boosted their play off ambitions with victory at Parkside Road on Saturday.

The visitors looked strong and physical at the back throughout and caused the hosts problems all afternoon with their high balls over the top of the defence.

After a quiet start to the game the visitors gave Town a warning on 10 minutes when a ball over the top was latched onto by Ahmed Obeng but his weak effort was easily gathered by Dootson.

Kendal began to come into the game as the half wore on and could have taken the lead on 15 minutes after a free kick was headed down by captain Kevin Brown in the Rushall box but Mike Rushton's shot on the turn flew over the bar when well placed, as Town failed to record a single effort on target in the first half.

It was the visitors though that took the lead on 25 minutes as out of nothing another high ball was played over the top of the Kendal defence and the dangerous Obeng ran on and lobbed keeper Craig Dootson from 20 yards.

Just before the break Obeng found himself free again in the box but this time Dootson was out smartly to smother the chance.

The hosts were much better in the early stages of the second half and created a number of presentable chances. Maison McGeechan saw his close range flick header superbly saved by Gemmell before the Town striker produced a daisy cutter that struck the foot of the post.

The visitors always looked dangerous on the break without overly threatening Town's goal and as the half wore on chances for either side became few and far between.

Zach Clark had a golden opportunity to equalise on 73 minutes but opted to square the ball instead of shooting when put clear in the box.

The Black and Whites were made to pay for their wastefulness in front if goal as Rushall scored a decisive second in the last minutes. Carl Palmer saw his header brilliantly saved by Dootson but the rebound was squared across the six yard box for Andre Landell to lash home and seal all three points for the visitors.

Kendal Town

Craig Dootson, Danny McGahon (sub Liam Shields), Callum Hoctor, Jack Cook, Kevin Brown (c), Martin Grundy, Corry Vickers, Zach Clark, Mike Rushton, Maison McGeechan (sub Phil Eastwood), Simon Rawnsley (sub Mike Barron)

Rushall Olympic

Gemmell, K Haynes, J Haynes, Tolley, Daniel (c), Smith, Palmer, Craddock, Islam, Obeng, Landell.

Att: 160