Choker at Chorley: Chorley 2 - Kendal Town 0 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Choker at Chorley: Chorley 2 - Kendal Town 0

8:56am Friday 8th April 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

A GOAL on the stroke of full time sealed Kendal’s fate as a determined Chorley side outplayed them on a chilly night at Victory Park.

With two difficult games against table-toppers Willenhall Town in the next few weeks the relegation threatened hosts needed the points more in their quest for survival and that desire was the difference between the two sides.

Kendal got out of the traps the quickest with a Lee Ashcroft shot on the turn as early as the first minute but it was the home side who went on to dominate the first half.

The warning signs were there in the third minute when keeper Mark Thornley had to tip a 20-yard effort from Chorley’s captain Jamie Vermiglio around the post and Paul Rigby had to clear off the line from the ensuing corner.

Town’s defence was worried by the pace of Chorley forward Danny Queeley and Thornley had to be at his best on 13 minutes to make a double save from first Vermiglio and then Queeley before the ball was scrambled away.

The early pressure eventually told on 17 minutes when a surging run and cross down the right from full back Gavin Lee-Ellison was headed into the top right corner from a seemingly unchallenged Neil Hardy.

Controversy reigned on the half hour when Chorley’s Hardy collided with keeper Thornley on the edge of the box. With the home crowd baying for Town’s stopper to be sent off for a professional foul, the referee awarded a free kick to Kendal.

Town did wake up towards the end of the half and Lee Ashcroft wasted his side’s best chance dragging his shot across the face of goal when well placed to the right.

In the second half Town’s best chances were coming from the left boot of Ged Smith, who whipped balls into the box, but the home side managed to restrict the visitors to half-chances.

On 63 minutes Hesketh made a double substitution moving Dene Whittal-Williams up front.

Three minutes later Kendal’s Russell McKenna almost scored a spectacular goal with a powerful free kick from fully 30-yards which was smartly tipped over the bar.

As Town pushed men forward to get the elusive equaliser, Chorley were left clinging on at times but always looked capable of scoring a second.

As the game drifted into injury time Chorley had a four-on-two break and scored the killer second goal with sub James Mullineux converting from the edge of the box.

How they rated: Thornley 7, Rigby 6, McKenna 6, Woodruffe 5, Whittal-Williams 5, Mercer 6, Prosser 5 (P. Smith 63mins), Kilford 6, Foster 5 (McMenemy 63mins), Ashcroft © 6, G. Smith 7. Att: 224.