W Lancs Football - Pickering pounces in County's Tod triumph (From The Westmorland Gazette)

W Lancs Football - Pickering pounces in County's Tod triumph

2:50pm Thursday 24th March 2011 in Sport

Kendal County 4, Todmorden Boro 1.

KENDAL County again had to make enforced wholesale changes due to player unavailability with 16-year-old Rory Neale making his full first-team debut and Michael Packham making his return from France.

County were on the front foot from the off with Kevin Pickering having an effort ruled out for offside, but they took the lead when Steve Cross returned the keeper’s clearance straight back over his head from fully 40 yards.

Joe Baker then created the second goal with a strong run down the left. His cross was fumbled by the keeper, leaving Pickering to score from close range.

Aiden Caswell then got in on the act with a well-placed shot to make it 3-0.

Slack defending from a corner gave the visitors a lifeline just before half time when the centre forward was left unmarked with his header giving Davies no chance.

Todmorden put the County back line under pressure early in the second half, but they weathered the storm.

After 60 minutes Pickering collected a ball from Glynn, lobbed it over the defender and in the same movement smashed a terrific finish into the bottom corner for 4-1.

Although the scoring was complete there were still plenty of chances at either end but both defences stood firm.

County boss David Chambers said: “A better performance than we’ve put in recently, especially the first half.

We faded in the second a little but it was a deserved victory.”