Hold out for the key: Kendal 2-Willenhall 1 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hold out for the key: Kendal 2-Willenhall 1

8:26am Friday 10th December 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

OUTSTANDING Nigel Taylor capped a superb performance in the heart of the defence with a 30-yard wonder goal as Kendal Town soared into the play-off places by beating one of the best sides to be seen at Parkside this season.

Two first half goals sealed the points in this UniBond League First Division match, but Willenhall Town will be disappointed not to have gone home with at least a point.

Against the run of early Willenhall pressure Kendal won a corner in the eighth minute. Russ McKenna swung it into the heart of the box, Kenny Mayers nodded it forward and David Foster acrobatically flung his leg at it and netted from eight yards.

Willenhall continued to have the lion's share of possession, however, and on 24 minutes keeper Mark Thornley kept Kendal ahead with a brilliant one-handed tip over of Thomas Vaughan's shot.

Throughout the match Nigel Taylor had been solid in defence, but on 41 minutes he turned match-winner.

Willenhall must have thought the danger had gone when a Kendal corner was booted 30 yards upfield, but Taylor whacked a bullet of a rising shot, which flew into the top right corner of the net.

It was a remarkable strike from a player who on Thursday was deemed as only 50-50 to play because of an ankle injury in the previous match.

A second half fight back was inevitable, particularly as Town manager Tony Heseth had been forced into a half time substitution as midfield hard man Ricky Mercer had been limping since a heavy challenge early in the first half.

On 66 minutes Willenhall's Martin Myer reduced the deficit by pouncing on a loose ball in the heart of the penalty area and finding the corner of the net.

Town then survived a torrid final 20 minutes during which Thornley made two more stunning saves as the home side hung on for three invaluable points.

How they rated: Thornley 9; McKenna 8, Taylor 9, Whittal-Williams 7; Rigby 8; Ashcroft 7, Jack 7, Mercer 7 (Woodruffe 7 from 45 minutes), Smith 8; Foster 8 (Clitheroe 6 from 70 minutes), Mayers 7.