Witton Albion 2 - 3 Kendal Town

KENDAL moved up to fifth in the table after surviving a late comeback to take three valuable points at Witton, writes Garry Woodworth.

Town boss Mike Stringfellow made three changes from the side that defeated Dunston in the FA Cup, recalling defender Robbie Williams, midfielder Aaron Helliwell and club skipper, Rob Henry.

Tom Kilifin and Sam Bailey were missing through injury and suspension respectively.

Employing a midfield diamond formation, Town started well and took the lead when Helliwell’s free-kick wasn’t properly cleared and Craig Carney blasted a spectacular volley in off the crossbar from 25 yards.

Albion should have been level within seconds when striker Alex Titchiner found himself with only Ric Whiteside to beat but steered his shot wide of the Town keeper’s left-hand post when the whole ground expected an equaliser.

Then, Whiteside was forced to turn aside a Ben Mills shot, which was aiming for the bottom corner, with an outstanding one-handed save on the turf.

However, Town took control of the match in the five minutes before half-time.

After a Jordan Connerton effort was rightly ruled out for offside, the Town striker then pounced on a Danny Wilkins cut back to hit number two before, right on half-time, Williams rose above the Albion defence to head home a Rob Wilson corner.

After the break, Connerton had chances to increase Town’s lead, including a diving header from another free-kick which he couldn’t direct on target.

Albion’s best chance then seemed to have gone when Chris Baker tried his luck from distance only to see his effort crash off the crossbar and bounce clear to safety.

Both sides then made substitutions with Town replacing Henry, Wilson and Danny Forbes ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Trafford and, as Stringfellow’s side lost a little of their shape, the hosts rallied.

Danny Andrews got what looked only to be a consolation goal when he got on the end of a defence-splitting pass with five minutes left but, when Whiteside couldn’t hold an Albion stoppage-time effort from outside the box, new signing Dominic Marie was on hand to tap in from two yards to reduce the arrears to a single goal.

Albion poured forward in search of what, over the whole ninety minutes, would have been an undeserved equaliser but ran out of time as Town found relief at the sound of referee Michael Crusham’s full-time whistle.

Whiteside, Aspin, Henry (c) (Watson 87), Forbes (Thomas 76), Williams, Smalley, Carney, Helliwell, Connerton, Wilkins, Wilson (Clark 69)

Sub not used: Kitchen (gk)