Football – Play-offs close for Town (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football – Play-offs close for Town

12:28am Sunday 17th April 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

Kendal Town 3, Colwyn Bay 2.

Play-off football moved inexorably closer for Kendal although they made hard work of beating their Welsh visitors.

Town took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Ged Smith's 25-yard free-kick was palmed away by Colwyn keeper Matt Parry only for Russ McKenna to head firmly into the net.

Town then squandered a hatful chances, but Colwyn always looked dangerous breaking out of defence and Mark Thornely had to push a Neil Coverly 30-yarder round the post on 29 minutes.

From the corner Calvin Davies scrambled in a Colwyn equaliser from six yards.

Six minutes later Colwyn's Frank Mottram gave his side the lead with a looping shot into the top left corner.

Four minutes before the interval Town made it 2-2 with the goal of the game Lee Ashcroft found David Foster 16 yards out and the striker shifted the ball from his right to left foot and unleashed a volley into the corner of the net.

Seven minutes into the second half Ged Smith hit a free-kick from 30 yards out on the left to the far post where Ricky Mercer rose to head a bullet back past the keeper for Town's third.

The nerves of supporters were on edge as Town then squandered even more chances while Colywn always looked capable of snatching an equaliser.

The defence, although shaky at times, managed to hold out, however, to keep Town in fifth place in the UniBond League First Division as they head for an away match against Brigg Town next Saturday.