On fire Gladiators send Kendal Town to 3-0 defeat

7:55pm Saturday 6th February 2010

By Patrick O'Kane

UniBond Premier Division Matlock Town 3 Kendal Town 0 KENDAL Town’s promotion ambitions were set back this afternoon as Matlock Town ran riot at Causeway Lane.

The Gladiators started the better and set the tone for the match after just five minutes when a loose shot went just over David Newnes bar.

And it was the relegation-threatened Matlock who deservedly took the lead on 26 minutes when captain Steve Warne thumped a spectacular half-volley into the bottom right corner from 18 yards following a goalmouth scramble.

The black and whites could have been level within minutes when an Alex Taylor effort went just over the bar.

A cross from the right wing by Scott Brough was met by Nathan Joynes who rose first to nod the ball home from two yards.

George Melling replaced Ian Kilford at half-time but it didn’t deter the home side who were in full swing.

Ross Hannah could have put the game to bed on 53 minutes when he was put through by Darren Cartwright but his shot went narrowly wide of Newnes’ goal.

Gary Stopforth almost reduced the deficit on the hour mark when he drove a stinging shot at Adam Sollitt’s goal, but the keeper was equal to it and palmed it away from a corner.

Moments later a bad day at the office was complete for Kendal when Hannah again got on the end of a through ball, this time from Nathan Benger.

He coolly rounded Newnes and slotted home, sealing the points for the home side.

And it could have been more but for Newnes heroics, twice stopping home strikers as they prepared to shoot and getting his fingertips to a couple of fierce shots.

Kendal rallied though and had their chances to get into the game, but time and time again the Matlock defence stood firm.

The best of the chances fell to Taylor and Kieran Walmsley, but Sollitt was not going to be beaten, tipping three Walmsley free kicks round the post and pushing a Taylor shot over the crossbar.

Lee Mulvaney and Callum Warburton replaced Dave Foster and Danny Wisdom late on, but to no avail.

Lee Ashcroft’s men will be hoping for an improved display and sharper shooting on Tuesday night when former manager Tony Hesketh and player Jordon Connerton return in the UniBond Challenge Cup quarter-finals with Lancaster City.

HOW THEY RATED David Newnes 7 Keiran Walmsley 8 Paul Byrne 7 James Connolly 7 Glenn Steel 7 Gary Stopforth 7 Carl Osman 7 Dave Foster 7 (Callum Warburton 73 mins) Alex Taylor 7 Ian Kilford 7 (George Melling 45 mins 7) Danny Wisdom 7 (Lee Mulvaney 73 mins) STAR MAN: Keiran Walmsley – Made several strong runs from defence and only keeper Adam Sollitt prevented his free kicks from getting Kendal back into the game.