Top Fleet sunk (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Top Fleet sunk

8:07am Friday 7th October 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

IN A pulsating match at Parkside on Tuesday the stars of the show were two players who have been sidelined with injury for several months, writes Dennis Aris Tony Hesketh's squad may have been hit by injury and suspension, but they showed resilience to see off UniBond League First Division leaders Fleetwood Town.

Midfielder Stuart Cliff distributed the ball with accuracy and purpose all evening while Nigel Taylor was a rock in central defence on his return.

For the first 30 minutes the visitors were hardly in the match. In the second minute right-winger Peter Smith swept in a cross and Kenny Mayers' shot cannoned against the post.

A couple of minutes later Smith again rounded the defence and this time Lee Ashcroft squandered an easy chance by sidefooting over the bar.

The inevitable goal arrived in the ninth minute. Cliff delivered an inch-perfect looping diagonal ball into the Fleetwood box for Peter Smith to half-volley in from 15 yards.

Dominant Town nearly scored again on 15 minutes. Kenny Mayers threaded the ball out to Smith. His first-time cross was volleyed goalwards by David Foster, but Fleetwood keeper Andy Banks made an agile dive to tip it round the post.

Kendal Town 2, Fleetwood Town 1

It was short reprieve, however, as Ged Smith's well-flighted corner rebounded off a defender and was bundled into the net by Dene Whittal-Williams.

The fight back came as Fleetwood settled and in the 33rd minute left winger Lenny Reid crafted a superb individual goal, twice feinting left but cutting infield before delivering an immaculate curler into the top right corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Fleetwood striker Ian Stevens then missed a chance to equalise when he just failed to connect with a low cross from two yards out and Richard Allen headed wide from a free-kick.

With half-time looming Foster went close to making the game safe for Kendal when his glancing header ran along the bar.

More goals looked likely and both sides went close as attacking end-to-end football continued in the second half.

On 66 minutes Fleetwood almost grabbed the equaliser when Stevens volleyed against the bar from 10 yards.

Not surprisingly, the tension bought a spate of yellow cards, Mayers, Paul Rigby, Ged Smith and Taylor going into the book for Kendal with Stuart Beech, Allen and Nathan Pond for Fleetwood.

When Pond was red carded for a second foul in the 85th minute it only remained for Kendal to play out time to move back into the top six.

How they rated: Salisbury 8; G. Smith 7, Taylor 9, Whittal-Williams 8, Rigby 8; Cliff 9 (McKenna 7 from 75 minutes), Kilford 7, Mayers 7, P. Smith 8; Ashcroft 7, Foster 7.

Shepshed Dynamo...........0 Kendal Town......................3 FOLLOWING a couple of indifferent home performances, Kendal showed clear signs of a return to form when they took all three points from Leicestershire-based Shepshed.

Saturday's welcome victory marked the return of midfield playmaker Stuart Cliff who has been plagued with a succession of injuries.

Aided by a blustery wind at their backs Town took a commanding 2-0 lead into the half-time interval.

Ged Smith, the latest incumbent of the problematic left-back position, sent in an inswinging corner kick on 15 minutes and striker David Foster anticipated well to head in at the near post with Shepshed keeper Simon Baldwin rooted to the spot.

Foster came agonisingly close to extending the lead minutes later with a powerful drive which rattled the crossbar.

Shepshed, who have found goals hard to come by, looked lively down the flanks but were found wanting in front of goal and Town keeper James Salisbury was rarely called on in the first period.

On 32 minutes Foster charged down a poor clearance from Baldwin and Lee Ashcroft curled the ball into the unguarded net from 30 yards.

The home side enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half. Darryl Thomas fired over from close range on 71 minutes and moments later Dene Whittal-Williams did well to block an Ashleigh Dyce drive. Substitute Tony Howell forced a neat save by Salisbury from the resulting corner.

Town's third goal arrived in added time, Ged Smith making a deep run and, following an impressive exchange with Lee Ashcroft, sending in a centre which onrushing Ian Kilford smashed home for his third goal for the club.

How they rated: Salisbury 7, G. Smith 8, Mercer 7, Whittal-Williams 7, Rigby 7; Cliff 7 (McKenna 6 from 76 minutes), Kilford 7, Mayers 7, P. Smith 7; Foster 7 (J. Osborne 6 from 86 minutes), Ashcroft 7.