Stafford Rangers 1 Kendal Town 2 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Stafford Rangers 1 Kendal Town 2

9:08pm Sunday 4th December 2011 in Sport

Evo-Stik Premier League
Stafford Rangers 1
Kendal Town 2
BY Rob Summerscales
A LATE own goal and a header from Marc Joseph ended Kendal Town’s run of five consecutive away league defeats, as they claimed victory over Stafford Rangers at Marston Road.

The winner came on 82 minutes, when a superb Kieran Walmsley cross flew in off defender Karl Espley.

Captain Marc Joseph had a busy afternoon and put his side ahead before the break but an unfortunate own goal levelled the scores when he deflected the ball past Craig Dootson.

The game started brightly, as both sides looked to get on the front foot.

Jordan Connerton produced a fine turn on halfway and found Peter Wright. The returning striker played in Kevin Leadbetter down the left, who fizzed a shot two yards wide.

At the other end, Glynn Blackhurst flicked a Robert Stevenson corner just over.

Leadbetter’s afternoon ended early when the midfielder suffered an injury tackling Peter Heler, an act for which he received a yellow card.

Rangers were also forced into making an early substitution. Kevin Street suffered a reoccurrence of a back injury and was replaced by Dan Skelton.

The changes disrupted both teams’ flow and the game became disjointed and midway through the first half, a scrap broke out in the Kendal penalty area.

As the players jostled for position awaiting Paul Donnelly’s free kick, Espley appeared to kick out at Joseph and then went down himself, claiming he had been struck and both went in the referee's book.

Kendal regained their composure and put together a counter attack of the highest quality.

Ashley Dunn won the ball in his own half and fed Donnelly, who motored forward 35 yards before playing in Walmsley on the overlap. The fullback swept in low cross that was cleared behind by the sliding Espley.

The resultant corner provided the Mintcakes with the opening goal on 40 minutes.

Donnelly’s floated delivery was met by Joseph’s bulleted far-post header, which flashed past Danny Read into the top corner.

Kendal started the second half much the better side and twice went close in the opening three minutes.

Donnelly and Walmsley combined down the right. Walmsley chipped the ball over Jon Patrick’s head and whipped in a deep cross that skimmed wide off the scalp of top-scorer Mark Jackson.

Ryan Dicker then played a kamikaze square pass across his six-yard box. With Wright primed to pounce, Patrick did very well to clear under pressure.

Ciaran Donnelly thought he had doubled Kendal’s lead after 56 minutes. But his headed effort, from Danny Williams’ volleyed cross was harshly ruled out for a push.

In controversial circumstances, Stafford equalised three minutes later. Alan Nagington’s cross for Harry Clayton was intercepted by Joseph, who desperately slid the ball inside Dootson’s near post.

Mark Wharmby raised his flag for offside. But, after consultation with his fellow official, referee Craig Taylor decided Nagington was not active and the goal was given.

The goal boosted the hosts, as they went in search of a winner. Clayton dispossessed Shaun Gray, who was otherwise faultless, and forced a fine parry from the underworked Dootson.

Greg Clowes’ men piled forward, but Kendal looked ever-dangerous on the break and struck gold with Espley’s own goal eight minutes from time.

HOW THEY RATED: C Dootson 6, K Walmsley 7, D Williams 6, S Gray 7, M Joseph 7, D Wisdom 7, C Donnelly 8, J Connerton 6, P Wright 5, A Dunn 6, K Leadbetter (rep 20mins by M Jackson 5).

Subs: T Kilifin, G McKevett, J Tucker, T Newton.

STAR MAN: Ciaran Donnelly – Controlled the ball well on a difficult surface. Great delivery for opener.

Attendance: 433