Thornley keeps Colwyn at Bay (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Thornley keeps Colwyn at Bay

10:09am Friday 12th November 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

Colwyn Bay................0 Kendal Town...............1 A FINE display of goalkeeping from Kendal Town's experienced keeper Mark Thornley ensured that a solitary strike by Kenny Mayers midway through the first half was enough to book Town a second round home tie in the FA Trophy against Hyde United.

In open play Kendal offered the better football on a precarious playing surface which deteriorated under the heavy rainfall.

Boss Tony Hesketh was forced into two changes for the tie as fullback Paul McMenemy was sidelined with knee ligament damage sustained in last week's success at Stocksbridge and influential midfielder Ricky Mercer missed out through a one-match suspension.

In their absence Russ McKenna slotted in at left back and Michael Jack played alongside Dave Woodruffe in central midfield.

Both had fine games to highlight the strength and flexibility of the current squad.

Kendal applied the early pressure without reward, but it was the home side who carved out the first goal-scoring chance when Paul Morris' downward header was superbly saved by Thornley, diving down to his left with nine minutess played.

Ten minutes later Thornley again saved well to keep out a Calvin Davies effort.

It was Kendal who took the lead in the 20th minute. McKenna was fouled on the left wing and Mayers helped Lee Ashcroft's free-kick over the line for his 15th goal of the season.

Both sides had further first half chances the best of those when Ashcroft almost capped off a clever three-man move, but Colwyn Bay keeper Matt Parry saved well.

A constant deluge greeted the players for the start of the second half and the home side almost levelled immediately.

James McIlvogue broke clear but Thornley was alert to the danger and raced out of his area to clear. Alex Kevan saw his free-kick graze the Town crossbar while Kendal responded with good efforts from Jack and a rare goal attempt from right back Paul Rigby.

On 69minutes Davis found himself with both time and space at the far post but Thornley stood firm and successfully blocked the striker's effort.

Ashcroft had an injury time opportunity to make it 2-0, but Parry pulled off a fine reflex save.

How they rated: Thornley 9; Rigby 8, Whittal-Wiliams 8, Taylor 8, McKenna 8; Smith 8 Jack 8, Woodruffe 8, Ashcroft 8; Mayers 8, Foster 8 (Ged 6 from 75 minutes).