Newcomer to fill striker gap (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Newcomer to fill striker gap

10:40am Friday 9th January 2009

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KENDAL Town will head into tomorrow’s game against Prescot Cables without top scorer Craig Hobson and striker partner Alex Taylor, writes Arran Jolly.

Sixteen-goal Hobson misses the league clash on Merseyside as he is serving a one-match ban, while Alex Taylor, who has scored nine times this season for Town, is recovering from a hernia operation and will be out for several weeks.

The forced absence of two of Town’s top three scorers means new signing Jordan Connerton could get a chance to earn his stripes immediately.

Connerton has joined Town from First Division North outfit Chorley, who are managed by ex-Town boss Tony Hesketh.

Kendal boss Lee Ashcroft has hinted that he will deploy the young striker either alongside the player-manager in a 4-4-2, or on his own supported by a five-man midfield as used in last week’s 3-2 away win over Woodley Sports in the Unibond Challenge Cup.

Manager Ashcroft will be grateful for the timely return of Lee Mulvaney and Callum Warburton, who have both been missing from the Town squad in recent weeks.

While Mulvaney struggled over December to shake off a niggling injury, Warburton could only look on as his three-match suspension was perpetuated as the coldest start to Christmas in 30 years saw Kendal’s fixture list all but grind to a halt.

Both looked glad to be back out on the pitch rather than in the dug-out on Saturday and both impressed with a goal.

At Prescot, Kendal will be looking for their first win on Valerie Park under Ashcroft.

Despite Cables’ lowly league position, a 6-3 away win over fifth in the division Marine will serve as warning to the Town players that they will have to be on top of their game if they want to break Ashcroft’s duck against Andy Gray’s side. Woodley Sports............. 2 Kendal................... 3 (aet) ALL the hallmarks of a classic cup-tie featured in this Unibond League Challenge Cup match, but with five minutes of normal time remaining few would have predicted a 3-2 winning scoreline after extra time.

Town had led 1-0 up to 85 minutes in the tie thanks to Lee Mulvaney’s brilliant three-minute strike, the winger having cut in from his left-sided berth to hit a rasping half volley into the top right-hand corner.

The goal marked the highlight of an otherwise quiet half of football in the fourth-round game, which had been switched to their opponents’ all-weather pitch to beat the freeze-up. Town rarely looked like scoring again, but neither did their opposition, who came closest through Gavin Salmon just two minutes after falling behind when the striker broke the offside trap and set up a one-on-one with keeper David Newnes.

The No. 9’s first touch let him down, however, and Newnes got his angles right to save with his feet on the corner of the six-yard box.

Midfielder Callum Warburton returned for Town and with Alex Taylor out, due to have his hernia operation, Kendal boss Lee Ashcroft opted for a 4-5-1 formation, as Craig Hobson played lone striker.

The formation allowed Kendal to control the middle of the park, but left chances at a premium and, despite controlling much of the first half, the visitors had to be content with their narrow lead to take into the interval.

Woodley came back out with a renewed sense of purpose that grew as the second half wore on and Kendal, despite creating several chances, failed to put the fixture to bed.

Hobson brought a good save from Ben Connett on the hour mark. The striker played a quick one-two with Mulvaney and fired low to the right, but the keeper was equal to the effort and steered the ball round the post for a corner.

Kendal looked to be doing just enough to ensure they would progress into the next round even with Woodley’s redoubled effort. Carl Osman was a constant threat to the Woodley defence whenever he got the ball and the winger’s piercing running and incisive passing was the creative force behind much of Kendal’s attacking threat.

But with four minutes remaining in normal time, Woodley’s only consistent threat, Gavin Salmon, picked up the ball inside the Kendal half and unleashed a low drive.

The ball that flew past the rooted Newnes into the bottom left to level the scores and seemingly indicate extra time.

The goal signalled the start of an eight-minute spell that would see another three goals fly in and turn a quiet encounter on its head.

Minutes after Woodley drew level good work by Hobson set up Osman for a shot just inside the Woodley box. Osman saw his effort brilliantly saved, but the ball broke to substitute Wisdom, who found Warburton in the right place at the right time to knock the ball in to restore the Town lead.

With three minutes of added time left, another comeback looked beyond Woodley as Town kept the ball in the corners. But in the home team’s final foray forward they drew level via a spectacular overhead kick from Mike Clarke.

The goal meant extra time and with the winner being decided on the night, those who had braved the freezing conditions were treated to 30 minutes of end-to-end football.

As both teams poured forward the game tipped back into Town’s favour once again as they utilised their ability to play on the counter attack. They regained the lead four minutes into the first half of extra time, with George Melling proving the hero as he connected with a long corner to send a looping header into the net.

Carl Osman hit the inside of the post and Ashcroft and Hobson both fired over from good positions. Kendal continued to play on the offensive throughout extra time and Woodley could not find a way back, leaving Town to claim a dramatic win from what was otherwise a largely inconspicuous game.

HOW THEY RATED: Newnes 7, Williams 6, Hallam 6 (Standley extra time 8, 7) Melling 7, Byrne 7, Warburton 7, Kilford 6 (Wisdom 65, 6) Cole 7, Osman 8, Mulvaney 8, (Ashcroft, 84, 6) Hobson 7. Att: 126. H Star man: Lee Mulvaney: Looked sharp and took his goal superbly.

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