How Town players fared (From The Westmorland Gazette)

How Town players fared

7:52am Friday 16th July 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

FORGET the embarrassing 9-1 scoreline, the Kendal Town v Carlisle United match was all about blending the new and old Town players into a team and within that parameter there were some useful signs.

Starting at the back Town had only one keeper, Lee Ward, to rely on last season. Now former Conference League player Mark Thornley has been added to the squad and they played half a game each. It appeared to show little to choose between the two keepers, Ward enhancing his own claims for the number one spot with a good penalty stop.

Full backs: the reliable Lee Pennington and ever-improving Paul Rigby would appear to have little opposition for their respective right and left positions, but Gary Major, promoted from the reserves did well enough when brought on late in the second half.

Nigel Taylor's solid no-nonsense approach in the heart of the back four made him one of the better performers against Carlisle, apart from an ill-timed sliding tackle which gave away the second half penalty. Long-serving Dave Burrows showed in the second-half that he is still a capable attack-stopper at UniBond level.

In midfield Stuart Cliff has recovered the long-pass ability, which appeared to desert him towards the end of last season. Chris Bennett, on the right wing, was outstanding, frequently outfoxing the Carlisle defence and being sharp enough to get into the box and score the consolation goal.

Newcomer Ricky Mercer had a quiet game while the bustling Dene Whital-Williams looked much more threatening late in the second half when personnel changes pushed him forward as second striker.

With Hesketh's star buy Lee Ashcroft unavailable, front running was shared between speedy David Foster and former Barrow striker Kenny Mayers, but with Carlisle in such tremendous form neither had much of a look in as the solid visiting defence mopped up the attacks.