Squandered... (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Squandered...

9:19am Friday 14th October 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

TWO goals up at half-time and totally in control, what could possibly go wrong?

Just about everything it turned out as Kendal squandered their two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 on a miserable night at Rossendale.

Manager Tony Hesketh left winger Peter Smith on the bench in favour of playing three centrebacks - Ricky Mercer, Ian Kilford and Stuart Cliff - while giving Lee Ashcroft a roving role behind strikers David Foster and Kenny Mayers,.

Just after the start Mercer had a shot from point-blank range blocked by keeper Andy Robertson then in the 16th minute Kilford drove in a low hard shot from 25 yards, giving the Rossendale keeper no chance.

A minute later the advantage was doubled as Mayers tapped in a low cross from Foster.

Foster then had a goalbound shot tipped over by Roberston in the 21st minute.

Rossendale Utd 3, Kendal Town 2

Rossendale, admittedly hampered by strong wind and rain in their faces, had little to offer although John Baguley drove wide and Pat Shaughnessy missed a half chance just before the interval.

An inspired double substitution at half time saw Rossendale introduce Lee Wilkinson and David Eatock and the home side began to exploit Town's compressed side with expansive wing attacks.

On 48 minutes Wilkinson forced a save from Town keeper James Salisbury, but Melvyn Morrison seized on the half clearance to drive the ball into the bottom corner.

Town's tottering defence was then sliced apart in the 54th minute as Eatock equalised to cap a good passing move.

Rampant Rossendale then saw a Tulloch free-kick rebound from the outside of the post with Salisbury motionless, but in the 65th minute they took a deserved lead when Tulloch headed in an angled free-kick.

Hesketh replaced Cliff and Foster with McKenna and Chris Ward in a bid to salvage the game, but Ward hit one scoring chance wide.

Town almost salvaged a point at the death, but Kenny Mayers just failed to connect with a cross whipped in by Ward.

How they rated: Salisbury 7; G. Smith (8), Taylor (6), Whittal-Williams 5, Rigby 6; Cliff 6 (McKenna 6 from 75 minutes), Kilford 6, Mercer 6; Ashcroft 6; Mayers 5, Foster 5 (Ward 5 from 75 minutes).