Kendal Town 3 - 2 Stalybridge Celtic

KENDAL Town suffered late FA Cup heartbreak as they were dumped out of the famous cup by Conference North outfit Stalybridge Celtic in a pulsating game at The Pye Motors Stadium on Saturday.

Tom Kilifin gave the home side the lead early on before Steven Tames equalised moments later.

Dan Wilkins gave the Mintcakes the advantage again before the break but dreams of a giant killing act were dashed with two goals in the final twelve minutes.

Manager Michael Stringfellow put out an attacking side against a club two leagues higher and was rewarded for his bravery after just three minutes

when Kilifin beat the Stalybridge keeper Tony McMillan to Wilkins’ dangerous right wing cross to poke in left footed at the near post.

Stalybridge, who are tenth in the Conference North, answered within three minutes when a long cross from the impressive Ben McKenna was met at the far post by Tames.

The equaliser saw Stalybridge dominate a large part of the first half as Bohan Dixon's overhead kick flew over the bar before Jack Higgins and Aaron Chalmers also came close with Rick Whiteside standing firm in the Kendal goal.

Town though fought back and looked dangerous going forward as Jordan Connerton and Wilkins caused the Stalybridge backline a lot of problems.

Chances were at a minimum with neither keeper seriously troubled when a move involving Connerton and Carney led to the latter pulling the ball back from the byline to find Wilkins in the box.

He had time to take a touch but curled the ball, first time, away from the keeper and into the far corner of the net to make it 2-1 after 34 minutes.

With Kendal in front the game opened up as Stalybridge pressed for the equaliser, however Kendal always looked dangerous on the break.

Stalybridge were unlucky not to equalise in first half stoppage time as Higgins headed onto the far post before Whiteside pushed the ball over for a corner.

The second half started at a quick tempo with Kendal looking lively but as the half wore on Stalybridge forced the home side back as their defence dropped deeper.

As the game reached it’s final stages and with the fans becoming more vocal as excitement built, Kendal pressed for a third.

A Carney free kick went just over the bar, Connerton tried an overhead kick and the ever willing Wilkins tested the keeper with a powerful header but the goal just would not come.

Against the run of play the game then changed as a Kendal attack was cleared long leaving Alex Johnson and Rob Williams contesting a bouncing ball.

The bounce eluded Williams who did get his head to the ball but it fell into the path of the Celtic centre forward and he coolly slotted it past Whiteside for a second equaliser.

With the game headed towards a replay, Kendal's hearts were broken on 83 minutes as a corner and a series of crosses finally resulted in a goal when second half substitute Darius Osei fired the ball home from close range.

The home players and fans looked towards the assistant referee but no offside was given and the goal stood.

Despite Kendal’s desperate efforts to get the ball forward, the visitors, held out for the win and progressed through to the next round.

Kendal team: Rick Whiteside, Mike Aspin, Rob Henry, (Ben Thomas), Dan Forbes (Zach Clark), Rob Williams,Chris Smalley, Craig Carney, Sam Bailey, Jordan Connerton, Tom Kilifin (Aaron Helliwell), Dan Wilkins

Subs not used: Will Kitchen, Tommy Watson

ATT: 323