Football - X-factor-type task lies ahead - Ashcroft (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football - X-factor-type task lies ahead - Ashcroft

4:56pm Saturday 23rd July 2011 in Sport

IT'S like X-Factor," said Kendal Town boss Lee Ashcroft this week as he faced finalising his 18-man first-team squad for the new Evo-Stik season.

Ashcroft had just watched the side record their first win in the third of a whirlwind nine-match pre-season build-up - a 9-0 lesson in finishing to the youth team members of ex-Premier League Blackpool FC.

While Ashcroft was happy to see his the goals pile up at Parkside for a near-400 strong crowd watching, a more searching test might have been more instructive as he makes up his mind on who to retain.

Last night's visit by League One Preston North End, whose manager Phil Brown had pledged to bring his first team, was widely being seen in the Parkside camp as the last chance for any hopefuls to jump on board.

After the Blackpool win, Ashcroft said: "It was a case of good play by us - Blackpool didn't gift us any goals.

"What we had been working on this week came to fruitition and it’s been goals galore for the fans.

"We needed that after two bad results against two very good sides in Carlisle and Blackburn.

"Now I’ve got some difficult decisions to make - it feels a bit like X-Factor - but I'd rather have the headache than not."

Eyecatchers on the pitch on Saturday were Cairan Donnelly, who showcased a lovely array of passes, with Ashley Dunn, Danny Wisdom and Danny Williams setting the standard.

One midfield newcomer Liam Blakeman, exTelford and Southport, showed some composed touches and has a "good footballing brain", according to the boss, while he picked out young Tom Kilifin, from the Lancaster area, as a long-term prospect to watch out for.

New keeper Craig Dootson showed he is settling in well, with Tom Newton as his understudy.

Meanwhile up to Saturday, Ashcroft had made four more signings: Marc Joseph, 34, - a defender, from Cambridge United, Peterborough and latterly with Altrincham.

Andy Bell, 27 - forward, ex Wycombe Wanderers, York City and Hednesford Town.

Mark Peers, 27- midfielder, ex-Halifax Town, Chester and Northwich Victoria.

Gary McEvatt - striker who joined from Burscough last season and re-signed after playing the last 10 games.

He did add: "Remember there were nine players unavailable through injury or being away, and they are good players and will get into the side."

Club skipper Keiran Walmsley is recovering after a hernia operation in the close season, but is back running and should be fit for the start of the season proper.

There is more hopeful news of McEvatt, who went off with suspected knee ligament damage against Blackburn, but is not as badly injured as first feared.

Kendal Town Reserves are in hard training and Ashcroft report some good youngsters in the ranks under manager Dave Foster.