Kendal outclassed by FC United as FA cup dream ends (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal outclassed by FC United as FA cup dream ends

7:16pm Sunday 7th October 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

FC United of Manchester 3

Kendal Town 1

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round

KENDAL Town have been knocked out of the FA Cup after they lost 3-1 to FC United in front of 1,186 fans.

FC United dominated possession but it was not until the second half that the goals started coming for them as Kendal defended stoutly before the break.

The Black and Whites nearly got off to the perfect start when a Kevin Leadbetter free kick hit the bar after his wonderful effort completely foxed FC United keeper Jon Worsnop.

The Gigg Lane side should have had a penalty in the 13th minute when Paul Alexander hauled down Jerome Wright in the box but referee Steven Meredith waved the appeals away.

And Kendal's luck continued when Leadbetter's shot was deflected over Worsnop to give the Cumbrians the lead a minute later.

Kendal's injury problems looked to be re-surfacing when Danny Wisdom and Alex Taylor had to be brought off with injuries as FC United began to dominate proceedings.

Alexander put in a great header from a Lee Neville cross to stop an FC United striker from what would have been a certain goal, and Marc Joseph's crucial block denied the home side another opportunity to equalise.

Kendal's defenders were putting in a great shift and they helped the Parkside Road outfit hold on to their 1-0 lead at half time.

The second half began similarly to the end of the first, Joseph getting another important block in before the Kendal captain shot over the bar when he ventured into the FC United box.

On 53 minutes Phil McGrath's header went wide while Mike Norton was inches away from scoring after good work from substitute Chris Amadi as FC United turned the screw.

But FC United got their breakthrough on the hour mark when Scott Harries was adjudged to have handballed in the box, and Dean Stott confidently struck the ball beyond Craig Dootson.

Dootson was called into action again six minutes later when he made a fantastic one-handed save to deny a Wright 25-yarder, but Adam Jones scored an unstoppable header from the resulting corner to put FC United in front.

The Black and Whites had been outplayed but they tried to get back in the game as they looked to take advantage of Joseph's long throw, Jones nearly scoring an own goal when he got the wrong side of the ball in one such throw in the 79th minute.

But with four minutes to go FC United had it wrapped up. Wright cut inside from the left to get around Joseph's challenge and his left-footed shot was almost caught on the line by Alexander, who was given a straight red card for deliberate handball.

Stott scored the resulting penalty with the same ease as his first to all but book FC United's place in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

Deep into injury time Dootson made another world-class save to deny Phil McGrath after good work by Amadi, who caused Kendal problems throughout the second half.

But by then the game was over, and Kendal's dreams of reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history was scuppered for another year.

Kendal Town

Craig Dootson, Rory Winters, Danny Wisdom, Paul Alexander, Mark Joseph (c), Ian Kilford, Alex Randell, Alex Taylor, Scott Harries, Danny Williams, Kevin Leadbetter.

Subs: Chris Mason for Wisdom (23), Ben Fishwick for Taylor (28), Naim El-Harrati for Kilford (76).

Subs not used: Dave Foster, Liam Shields, Ed Williams, Josh Welsby

Yellow cards: Alexander, Randell

Red cards: Alexander

Key man: Marc Joseph - His long throws caused real problems for FC United and his first half defensive display helped preserve Kendal's lead going into half time.

FC United of Manchester

Worsnop, Jacobs (c), Neville, Birch, Jones, Stott, McGrath, Cottrell (Amadi 55), Norton (Daniels 89), Wright, Platt (Krou 73).

Subs not used: Howley, Cheetham, Anderson, Carr.

Yellow cards: Cottrell, Jones

Attendance: 1,186