Poor second half performance puts paid to Kendal hopes of points (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Poor second half performance puts paid to Kendal hopes of points

7:28pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

Worksop Town 3

Kendal Town 0

Evo-Stik Premier Division

ILL discipline and a dodgy refereeing decision cost Kendal Town three points as they slipped down to 17th in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table.

Six foot six striker Tom Denton caused havoc to the Black and Whites defence all afternoon as he bagged a brace, with partner Leon Mettam completing a little-and-large forward partnership that Town could not live with.

But the first half was an even affair and Worksop were lucky to go into the break a goal to the good.

They got their goal three minutes before half time when Adam Birchall was booked for a foul, giving the Tigers a free kick.

But the referee allowed Worksop to take the kick quickly without blowing his whistle, which meant Kendal’s defence was not ready and before they knew it Denton put the ball in the back of the net.

It was harsh on Kendal in what was an extremely tight opening 45 minutes with both sides having chances.

Some lovely one-touch football gave Alex Taylor an opportunity to open the scoring for Kendal in the fifth minute, but he dragged his shot wide.

Kendal’s passing was crisp and they were moving well off the ball, with vast passages of play being played in Worksop’s half.

Taylor had another chance on the 20-minute mark when he turned his man on the edge of the box and forced a good save from 42-year-old keeper Paul Bastock, who got down well to keep hold of the forward’s effort.

But Worksop were also threatening, Owain Warlow unleashing a volley from the edge of the box that would have been a contender for goal of the century had it not wisped by the upright of Craig Dootson’s net in the ninth minute.

Mettam also had a chance after a nice turn on the edge of the area but his shot went over the bar.

The second half was a different story and Worksop started with their tails up after having taken the lead just before half time.

Mettam hit the post when he was one-on-one with Dootson five minutes into the second half, and four minutes later he came close with two quickfire efforts - one forcing the save from Dootson before heading the resulting corner just over the bar.

But in the 59th minute Worksop and Denton had their second goal. After Dootson and Marc Joseph failed to deal with a cross, the ball worked its way to Steve Towers, who nodded the ball back into the six-yard box for Denton to stoop low and flick his header into the back of the net.

It got worse for Town four minutes later when the Nottinghamshire side made it 3-0. Denton flicked the ball on for Mettam to chase and the number 10 slotted his left-footer past Dootson to cap a straightforward goal.

On 66 minutes things went from bad to worse for the Parkside Road outfit as they were reduced to 10 men, Alex Randell getting sent off for a stamp on Warlow.

And with seven minutes remaining Kendal had another man sent off. Substitute Paul Alexander hauled down Mettam when he broke on the counter attack, and as the last man the referee had no choice but to dismiss the Town centre back.

There was time for skipper Joseph to thump a free kick just past the post but Kendal were second best in the second half as Denton and Mettam continually harassed the Town back line, and Kendal came away with no points and suspensions for two of their players.

Kendal Town

Craig Dootson, Naim El-Harrati, Danny Williams, Rory Winters, Marc Joseph (c), Adam Birchall, Alex Randell, Alex Taylor, Sefton Gonzales, Scott Harries, Kevin Leadbetter.

Subs: Alex Ralph for Leadbetter (half time), Paul Alexander for Harries (62).

Subs not used: Ian Kilford, Chris Mason, Josh Welsby

Worksop Town

Bastock, Ludlam (c), Clarke, Young, Miller, Hawes, King (Beeson 88), Towers, Denton, Mettam, Warlow.

Subs not used: Wood, Menga, Jepson.

Attendance: 289