Kendal pay heavy price for FA Cup progression against Dunston (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal pay heavy price for FA Cup progression against Dunston

11:48pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

Kendal Town 4

Dunston UTS 2

After Extra Time

FA Cup First Round Qualifying Replay

KENDAL Town's progression into the next round of the FA Cup was marred by three serious injuries during their hard-fought encounter against Dunston UTS.

Jack Duggan (shoulder), Josh Kenworthy (back) and Jordan Tucker (suspected fractured ankle) face protracted spells on the touchline after they were all sent to hospital during an otherwise thrilling tie at Parkside Road.

The North East side went ahead in the 12th minute when Rory Winters hacked down Stephen Gibson, and Andrew Bulford confidently strode up to dispatch the penalty.

Kendal enjoyed good chances either side of the goal, Danny Wisdom not making the most of a chance in the first minute while Dunston goalkeeper Liam Connell made a double save to deny Danny Williams, and then Scott Harries from two yards out.

Town were on top until Duggan picked up his injury, and the seriousness of it became apparent at half time when an ambulance arrived.

One minute into the second half and Kenworthy was struggling after an alleged knee to the back, which meant he came off for Liam Wynn on 55 minutes.

With Marc Joseph already missing through international duty, Craig Dootson suspended and Alex Taylor coming off injured the previous Saturday, Town struggled to find their rhythm until at the near post the impressive Harries flicked a Kevin Leadbetter free kick into the back of the net to make honours even in the 58th minute.

The challenges were flying in as the game lost its composure, but Town still looked the better side until Bulford got his second goal of the night. He was left unmarked for a simple header beyond Josh Welsby in the Town goal to put Dunston back in front.

With six minutes left, Kendal pushed for an equaliser and a superb long ball was touched on by Gibson, which took the ball away from UTS centre back Christopher Swailes. Danny Williams was too quick to the ball and Swailes scythed down the winger to give the Black and Whites a penalty. Leadbetter put the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

Substitute Liam Wynn could have stopped extra time from happening at all but his header inside the box could only find the bar, while deep into injury time Welsby made a miraculous double save by thwarting a Bulford lob before recovering his ground and throwing himself at James Magowan’s effort to keep Kendal’s FA Cup journey alive.

Extra time began with an injury to Tucker after he went for a header and went to ground with nobody around him.

But Kendal’s luck finally turned when Alex Randell’s shot took a huge deflection from 20 yards out which foxed Connell and the ball squirmed into the corner to give Kendal the lead for the first time in the game.

Michael Robson was sent off for Dunston for a second bookable offence on the cusp of half time in extra time, and Kendal finished the job when Williams ball in was helped along nicely by Ben Fishwick for Harries to grab his brace from just inside the box.

There was time for two more chances for Kendal either side of the fourth goal, Swailes clearing off the line when Fishwick had rounded the keeper, while Wynn rattled the crossbar with a 30-yard thunderbolt.

Magowan could have brought a goal back for the Gateshead-based side with three minutes to go after Welsby dropped a catch at his feet.

But Kendal were not to be outdone on a night when injuries spoiled what should have been a joyous victory for the Parkside Road outfit.

Kendal will take on fellow Evo-Stik Premier Division side Witton Albion in the second round of the FA Cup Qualifying Rounds on Saturday, September 22.

Kendal Town

Josh Welsby, Jordan Tucker, Danny Williams, Jack Duggan, Rory Winters, Danny Wisdom, Alex Randell (c), Scott Harries, Josh Kenworthy, Ben Fishwick, Kevin Leadbetter

Subs: Paul Alexander for Duggan (33), Liam Wynn for Kenworthy (55), Ed Williams for Jordan Tucker (96)

Subs not used: Tom Newton, Naim El-Harrati

Key man: Scott Harries – Continued to terrorise Dunston’s defence and fully deserved his two goals

Dunston UTS

Connell, Cattanach (c), Galbraith, Robson, Swailes, Young, Burrell, Dixon, Preen, Bulford, Gibson

Subs: Craggs, Herron, McAndrew, Shaw, Fisher, Clark, Magowan