Ten-man Kendal come from behind to win at Hednesford

Lee Ashcroft's side ended a run of seven straight defeats as they turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory, despite having Adam Farrell sent off midway through the first half.

Kendal started better than their play-off chasing hosts and forged early chances through Kevin Leadbetter and Danny Williams as the pacy duo got in behind the home defence.

Leadbetter was flagged offside twice in the opening 20 minutes but it was Hednesford who had the best chance of the early stages when a Chris Clements effort fizzed marginally beyond the angle from 25 yards.

On 30 minutes Kendal's hopes of victory took a hit when Adam Farrell pushed over Cheyenne Dunkley after the Hednesford defender had lunged in on him.

In the aftermath Dunkley and Town skipper Marc Joseph were cautioned as tempers flared.

The hosts made their extra man tell before the break as they pressed on Craig Dootson's goal and as the half moved into stoppage time they stole the lead.

A corner from Michael Ordish was whipped into the six yard box and Dootson could only parry it to Clements who fired it back through the defence to the bottom corner.

Kendal came out fighting after the break though and were back on level terms on 55 minutes when Alex Taylor was dragged down by Dunkley in the box.

While the Town bench expected a second yellow for the defender, no card was issued, but Leadbetter stepped up to equalise as Dan Crane's claw at the ball couldn't prevent it nestling in the bottom right corner.

And it wasn't just the scores that were level a minute later as Hednesford midfielder Elliott Durrell received a second yellow for a foul on Ciaran Donnelly.

Hednesford reacted to the red card in the best possible way and were back in front just three minutes later when Nick Wellecomme latched onto a ball behind the defence and poked it beyond the onrushing Dootson.

Just a moment later a two-footed lunge by Dunkley on Leadbetter went unseen by referee D Meeson and while Leadbetter received extensive treatment on the touchline, the game continued, with no punishment for Dunkley, much to the bemusement of the 374-strong crowd and the referee's assessor sat in the stands.

The in-form Leadbetter was replaced five minutes later by Gary McEvatt and early indications suggest he may have broken his foot.

The game became frayed with both sides trying to burst forward but it was Kendal who had the extra bit of skill in midfield.

Danny Wisdom returned to the Town line up after several weeks out with a broken hand and he made some crucial tackles to keep out Ordish and Ben Jevons in the Hednesford attack.

With just 12 minutes left on the clock it was Wisdom who made a telling run down the left wing to play in Danny Williams.

Williams controlled the ball as he edged into the box and slotted past Crane for 2-2.

Within 60 seconds though it looked like Town had fallen behind again but after Wellecomme's shot ricocheted off the crossbar, the follow up poke home from Clements was ruled out for a foul on Joseph.

Ashcroft's men were more clinical in front of goal and another 60 seconds later they took the lead.

Donnelly whipped a corner into the middle and as Taylor miskicked his effort, Wisdom became the goal hero when he took the ball off him and slotted home.

On 87 minutes it looked as though Hednesford were going to steal a point off the Black and Whites when Clements connected with a Wellecomme cross on the volley but Dootson was alert and got the slightest of touches to push the ball onto the crossbar and behind for a corner and Kendal kept all three well-deserved points.

HOW THEY RATED: Craig Dootson 7, Rory Winters 7, Danny Wisdom 8, Jordan Tucker 8, Marc Joseph 7, Ashley Dunn 8, Adam Farrell 5, Ian Kilford 7 (rep Ciaran Donnelly 46mins 7), Alex Taylor 8, Kevin Leadbetter 7 (rep Gary McEvatt 60mins), Danny Williams 8.

Subs: Mark Jackson, Carl Osman, Tom Newton.

STAR MAN: Danny Wisdom - superb return to the team after injury and popped up to score the winning goal.

Att: 374