Ashton United 1 Kendal Town 0 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Ashton United 1 Kendal Town 0

1:59pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Sport

Evo-Stik Premier League
Ashton United 1
Kendal Town 0
.

By Brett Munslow Kendal Town dominated this Evo-Stik Premier League fixture in the possession stakes, but without a point to show for it, the result will leave a sour taste in the mouths of those who made the trip to Tameside on Saturday, The visitors started the brighter and could have taken the lead in the seventh minute when striker Jordan Connerton was felled inside the penalty area after a neat pass from winger Ciaran Donnelly.

The referee pointed to the spot only to see his linesman flagging for an offside in the build-up and over-ruling his initial decision, the referee awarded a free kick to Ashton.

Central-defensive pairing Marc Joseph and Jordan Tucker kept the hosts at bay but Ashton’s defence was equally resolute, with former Town defender George Melling producing two crucial blocks within the space of a few minutes, first blocking Mark Jackson's goalbound effort and then intercepting Danny Williams' dangerous cross.

Town worked the ball well on the floor with free-flowing football and Donnelly enjoyed spells of good possession deep in the Ashton half with Kieran Walmsley and Williams supporting going forward.

In the 36th minute the best chance of the half came as Donnelly delivered a fine cross into the box but Ashley Dunn rushed onto the ball and slammed his effort into the turf as Smith produced a fingertip save to deny the visitors a half-time lead.

Town were handed a numerical advantage in the 63rd minute when Matty O’Neill saw red for a dangerous two-footed challenge on Dunn, but as Town pushed on, Melling was to block another Wright effort.

Ashton thought they had taken the lead soon after but Marlon Piana’s strike was ruled out for a foul on keeper Craig Dootson.

The relief was short-lived for Town though as Chris Amadi moved the ball up the pitch and struck home from distance, the ball deflecting off Tucker and cruelly beyond Dootson with 73 minutes played.

Town boss Lee Ashcroft replaced Wright and Jackson with Alex Taylor and Gary McEvatt and they should have been level when Donnelly crossed into the box.

Ashton keeper Terry Wright fumbled the ball to Connerton but his snapshot fell wide with the open goal gaping.

Danny Wisdom, Connerton, Taylor, McEvatt and Walmsley all lost possession in key areas with better options ahead and Walmsley was unlucky to graze the crossbar after Taylor had earned a freekick with his endeavour.

And in the final minute a near flick from Taylor released McEvatt down the right wing but Connerton fired his cross over the bar and Town slumped to a 1-0 defeat.

HOW THEY RATED: C Dootson 6, K Walmsley 7, D Williams 7, J Tucker 8, M Joseph 7, D Wisdom 6, C Donnelly, 7 J Connerton 6, P Wright 5 ( rep A Taylor 69mins), A Dunn 6, M Jackson 5 (rep G McEvatt 69mins).

Subs Not Used: T Newton, R Winters, T Kilifin.

STAR MAN: Jordan Tucker - A fine game at the back and for the vast majority kept the powerful Ashton strikers under control.

Att: 122