Liverpool signing for Town (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Liverpool signing for Town

12:46pm Friday 14th March 2008 in Sport By Dennis Aris

WITH a highly-rated new fullback on board, Kendal Town will seek this weekend to relaunch their drive away from the lower reaches of the UniBond Premier League.

Waterlogged grounds contrived to keep Kendal anchored in the relegation danger zone last weekend when the downpour in the early hours of Saturday made the pitch at Town's Lakeland Radio Stadium, Parkside Road, unplayable for the game with Ilkeston Town.

On Tuesday came more bad news as the match with Matlock Town was called off as the Derbyshire side's ground was still waterlogged.

Yet the week of inaction has given manager Lee Ashcroft the chance to both prepare his side for the final shove needed over their remaining 11 games and also given him the opportunity to strengthen his hand by signing right-back Neil Taylor.

Taylor, who went to Liverpool as a promising youngster and played a couple of games for the Anfield side, has now been released from contract.

"I have been after him for some time and I'm chuffed to bits to sign him," said Ashcroft.

Town's improved form in recent weeks had brought a couple of victories to propel them towards the relative safety of mid-table, but defeat against bottom club Lincoln United a fortnight ago, plus the two cancelled matches this week, have dropped them back to fourth from bottom, although they do have a game in hand over Whitby Town, who occupy the third relegation place.

Such is the tightness of the division this term, however, that a mere eight points separate the bottom eight sides and Kendal still have 11 league games to play.

Conventional wisdom says that 40 points is safety and, with Kendal already on 32, that should be easily achievable, but Ashcroft will want more from his men and knows that a respectable finish in the upper half of the table is by no means out of the question.

The Ilkeston home match has been re-arranged for Tuesday, April 1, but the away trip to Matlock has not yet been rescheduled.

Kendal's other remaining fixtures are: Saturday (March 15), Stamford (home); Good Friday, Gateshead (away); Easter Monday, Marine (home); Saturday, March 29, Ashton United (away); Saturday, April 5, Whitby Town (home); Tuesday, April 8, Leek Town (away); Saturday, April 12, Worksop Town (away); Saturday, April 19, Matlock Town (home); Saturday, April 26: Gu i s e l e (away)