West Lancashire Football: Baker hat-trick sinks Corinthians

5:51pm Saturday 4th September 2010

By Patrick O'Kane

A JOE Baker hat-trick earned Kendal County a vital three points in division two as they closed the gap on frontrunners Lytham Town.

But in an eventful first half they lost playmaker Paul Grattan to a knee injury - and he was later taken to hospital - and manager Dave Chambers was sent off from the touchline.

County shot out of the starting blocks at Parkside Road and it was Baker who gave them an early lead when he darted around the Cors' keeper to knock the ball into an empty net on seven minutes.

Neil Hartley rose first to reach a ball in from the right wing and at the second attempt he headed past the stranded County keeper.

The following few minutes brought some strange but stern decisions from the referee as he booked two County players for backchat before going to the line and giving Chambers his marching orders - seemingly for the same reason.

On 23 minutes County's Cooper struck at goal after the ball was played in from the byline but his shot went inches over the bar.

Grattan latched on to a cross from Ferguson on 26 minutes but losing control he dived in for a tackle with the keeper and came out the worse - writhing in agony on the deck.

After the restart it was Cors who took the momentum and they could have taken a half-time lead but their striker struck right at the keeper, who pushed it clear.

County took control in the second half and it was Ollie Wilson who restored the lead on 47 minutes.

Wilson was first to react to Graham Baker's corner and he headed through the defence and into the bottom left corner.

And then it was left for Joe Baker to run the show. He bagged his second on 56 minutes at the near post, narrowly beating the keeper to fire the ball into the roof of the net from a ball over the top by Cooper.

He made it three for the day and 4-1 to County on 80 minutes when Gary Baker squared for him to shoot home from 12 yards.

But it was Corinthians who had the final say on the match in injury time when Matt Longden struck a 25 yard free kick through the defence and into the bottom corner.

However, there was no time for Cors to start a fightback as the referee blew the whistle for full-time.