Dunn and Winters keep Town run going (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Dunn and Winters keep Town run going

11:00am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Sport

Evo-Stik Premier League
Kendal Town 2
Matlock Town 1
KENDAL Town's resurgent 2012 continued with a hard-fought win over Matlock Town at the CosySeal Stadium on Saturday.

Town goalkeeper Craig Dootson almost handed the visitors an early lead through when he slipped while receiving a back pass, but he recovered in time to gather the ball at the feet of visiting striker Ian Holmes.

Holmes found himself clean through on goal again a few minutes later but the offside flag came to Kendal's rescue.

Mark Jackson, Kendal's leading scorer with 12 goals in the current campaign, shaved the visitors' upright with a snapshot and moments later midfielder Ashley Dunn burst into the area, but Matlock's Liam King made a timely challenge as the sides went in 0-0 at the break.

At the start of the second half Craig Nelthorpe almost opened the scoring for the Gladiators, but Dootson pushed his effort onto the post and gathered the rebound.

As play switched to the other end, Dunn's well-measured 20-yard drive found the bottom corner with keeper Jon Kennedy helpless to prevent Kendal taking a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled in controversial fashion. Captain Marc Joseph was allowed to take a quick free-kick, despite the referee still appearing to be speaking with the offending Matlock player, and Rory Winters latched on to the loose ball and fired a low shot past Kennedy.

Substitute Tyriese Nightingale was unlucky not to reduce arrears five minutes later when his effort was denied by Dootson.

But Matlock pulled one back in injury time through an unstoppable shot from substitute Ben Hunter, but Kendal held on for a victory which saw them climb to eighth in the league.

KENDAL TOWN: 1 C Dootson, 2 R Winters, 3 D Williams, 4 S Gray, 5 M Joseph (C), 6 D Wisdom, 7 C Donnelly, 8 G McEvatt (rep K Leadbetter 78mins), 9 A Taylor (rep A Farrell 74mins), 10 A Dunn, 11 M Jackson.

Subs Not Used: J Tucker, T Kilifin, I Kilford.

ATT: 152