Football - FA Trophy test for in-form Town (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football - FA Trophy test for in-form Town

12:28pm Saturday 18th October 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

KENDAL Town go to Stamford in the FA Trophy tomorrow (Saturday) after claiming a major scalp in their exciting Unibond League season with a 3-1 win at FC United on Wednesday evening.

It followed a disappointing goalless home draw against Worskop on Saturday with Town’s counter-attack style repeating dividends on their travels.

FC United 1.

Kendal Town 3.

KENDAL Town boss Lee Ashcroft was quick to praise his players and the 100-plus travelling support as two goals from Carl Osman and a Michael Cole strike helped Kendal record a well-earned 3-1 victory at Gigg Lane on Wednesday evening Osman set the game up to be a compelling spectacle by opening the scoring inside the first minute with a clinical finish past home keeper Sam Ashton to silence the home fans.

And Kendal remained unfazed by the impressive 1,801 official attendance as they put together some delightful interplay in the first quarter of the game.

They were, however, dealt a blow when Ashcroft got involved with former Kendal player Simon Garner under the referee's nose and the referee dismissed both players for violent conduct, although the club will look to obtain video evidence to decide whether or not they have grounds for an appeal.

The dismissals had no negative bearing on the game as both sides pushed forward at every opportunity and the home side had the chance to level the scores from the penalty spot on the half-hour after George Melling was adjudged to have brought down Simon Carden.

Up stepped Chris Baguley to take the kick but keeper David Newnes anticipated well to make a crucial save to his left, gathering in the ball at the second attempt.

But the midfielder made amends two minutes before half-time when he brilliantly cushioned Jerome Wright's cross before sweeping home.

The hosts went on to have the best of the remainder of the first half as the league's leading scorer Kyle Wilson blasted an effort wide and on the stroke of half-time Newnes pulled off an excellent double save to make sure it was honours even at the break.

At the start of the second half, the impressive Lee Mulvaney was picked out by Alex Taylor and his goal attempt struck the inside of the post. And at the other end, Melling made a timely block tackle as Wilson seemed destined to force the ball over the line. Kendal got their noses back in front on 52 minutes when Cole finished off a slick attack with a sweeping shot into the bottom corner.

Taylor then missed a decent chance to put Kendal further ahead before a bit of Osman magic unlocked the home defence and his shot beat keeper Ashton, possibly taking a slight deflection along the way.

The luckless Taylor should have been among the goals and he showed good strength to outstrip the defence five minutes from time, but after angling himself wide of the keeper he could only find the side-netting.

But it mattered little as Kendal had done more than enough to seal a deserved victory and with the final whistle followed unbridled celebrations from Kendal fans.

HOW THEY RATED: Newnes 8, Williams 8, Byrne (capt) 8, Wordsworth 8, Melling 8, Warburton 8, Osman 9 (Baker 78min), Ashcroft 7, Taylor 8 (Hobson 85min), Cole 8, Mulvaney 8 (Standley 88min). Subs (unused): Hallam, Wisdom.

I Star man: Carl Osman - creative playmaker with two goals to his credit.