Revenge for Town at Belper: Belper 2 - Kendal 3 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Revenge for Town at Belper: Belper 2 - Kendal 3

10:02am Friday 4th March 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

A SOLID second-half performance saw Kendal come from behind to claim a revenge victory against the Belper side which beat them 2-0 at home a fortnight ago..

Kendal had, to a a degree, been let off the hook for they might have found themselves trailing by more than a single goal at the break had not goalkeeper Mark Thornley been in inspirational form.

Thornley was quick to spread himself at the feet of Belper striker Jason Maxwell's feet on nine minutes and it was Nigel Taylor who closed down Andy Rushbury as he looked to finish off the attack.

The opening goal came on 26 minutes. Ben Walker's shot was saved by Thornley, but former Gainsborough Trinity marksman Jason Maxwell reacted well to rifle the rebound into the roof of the Kendal net.

On 38 minutes a quick break out of defence saw Walker force another fine save from Thornley.

Eventually Kendal came into the game late in the half when both Lee Ashcroft and Ian Kilford went close to grabbing an equaliser.

An inswinging Ashcroft corner at the start of the second half surprised everyone, including goalkeeper Lee Wilson, the ball bouncing before finding the back of the net for the Kendal equaliser.

A rocking Belper defence began to look vulnerable and a spell of pressure saw Ashcroft strike the post while David Foster saw a good shot come back off the bar.

Subsitute Mike Jack, who had replaced the injured Taylor netted on 55 minutes with a well taken shot to put Kendal ahead and moments later Ashcroft was unlucky as Wilson tipped over his well-struck shot.

Belper's Laurie Wilson almost levelled with a free kick which required a goal-line clearance by Kendal winger Peter Smith, but a moment later Kendal hit back.

Ashcroft ran on to a Kenny Mayers pass before curling his shot beyond Wilson to make it 3-1.

The hosts pulled one back on 90 minutes when Andy Rusbury made the most of a poor clearance by Thornley. Wilson had a late chance to spoil the Kendal party, but curled his free-kick wide in what turned out to be the last action of the game.

How they rated: Thornley 8; Rigby 7, McKenna 7, Woodruffe 7, Taylor 6 (Jack 7 from 55 minutes); Mercer 7, Kilford 7; Smith 7, Foster 7 (Bennett 6 from 85 minutes), Mayers 7, Ashcroft 8.