Well earned replay:Town 1 - Hyde 1 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Well earned replay:Town 1 - Hyde 1

9:36am Friday 3rd December 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

BATTLING Kendal Town earned a replay and could so easily have taken this FA Trophy tie against the side a division above them in the UniBond League.

Hyde, who boasted stars in their line-up like John O'Kane, ex-Manchester United and Blackpool captain in 2003, initially looked as if they would walk it, forcing Kendal keeper Mark Thornley to punch clear in the first minute then taking the lead on seven minutes when Phil Salt shimmied slightly to give himself space in the centre of the park then launched a curling 20-yard shot into the right hand side of the net.

Town then settled down and matched Hyde in very department as both sides produced as exciting a game of passing football as one can hope to see at this level.

Peter Smith's attacking right wing play and crosses worried, but could not quite defeat, the well-marshalled Hyde back four in the early stages while Hyde's Andy Waine hammered another thunderbolt which Thornley did well to parry.

Thornley then kept Town in the tie after the interval, soaring to punch out Matty McNeil's header, which was bound for the top corner.

The balance of play was beginning to turn Town's way, however, and in the 74th minute it was Hyde keeper Tim Mullock's turn to make a fine diving save from Smith's snap-shot.

Eight minutes from the end Nigel Taylor, who had been magnificent in defence, turned goal provider when he flighted a 30-yard free-kick into the heart of the Hyde box. Kenny Mayers, who is often at his most dangerous with his back to goal, shielded it then turned on the spot and drove it unerringly low and hard under Mullock.

With two minutes to go Town should have won it. First a shot slammed against the crossbar then a corner to the back post was met by Lee Ashworth, who appeared to head ball and post simultaneously, with the ball squirting agonisingly outside.

How they rated: Thornley 8; McKenna 8, Taylor 9, Whittal-Williams 7; Rigby 8; Ashcroft 8, Woodruffe 7 (Jack 7 from 76 minutes), Mercer 7; P. Smith 8; Foster 7 (G. Smith 7 from 65 minutes), Mayers 8.