Town equaliser keeps FA Cup dream alive (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Town equaliser keeps FA Cup dream alive

5:00pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Football

Dunston UTS 3

Kendal Town 3

FA Cup First Round Qualifying

GOALS from Alex Randell, Scott Harries and a late Josh Kenworthy strike five minutes from time set up a replay at Parkside Road. tonight (Tuesday).

Kendal returned from the North East with a hard-fought draw against a well organised Dunston side.

The Black and Whites set off the more positive side and Harries got to the by-line to cross for Alex Taylor but the Dunston defence managed to clear the trouble.

Kendal’s early promise was undone on 14 minutes when Dale Burrell latched on to a through ball and cooly slotted under the on-rushing Craig Dootson.

Kendal responded well and on 28 minutes Kevin Leadbetter was fouled 25 yards out. Alex Randell stepped up and hit a unstoppable free kick into the top corner which left the keeper standing to level proceedings going into the half time break.

The second half started well for Kendal and on 47 minutes Harries picked the ball up 40 yards from goal. The Dunston defence stood off him and his pace took him into the box before he side-footed his shot into the bottom corner.

Town looked comfortable and should have increased their lead when Harries pulled a cross back from the by-line only for Kenworthy to drive it wide.

The game changed on 68 minutes when Chris Swailes was allowed a free header from a corner and powered it past Dootson to level the tie.

This gave Dunston the momentum and on 72 minutes Steven Preen was too strong for Jordan Tucker as he drove into the box to shoot past Dootson from six yards out.

Facing FA Cup elimination Kendal did not give up and on 84 minutes they levelled the tie after a series of corners fell to Danny Wisdom. He headed the ball back into the box and a brave header from Kenworthy beat the on-rushing keeper to keep Kendal’s cup dream alive.

A win for Kendal Town in the replay tonight (Tuesday) will set up a second qualifying round encounter at home to fellow-Evo-Stik Premier outfit Witton Albion on Saturday, September 22.

Kendal Town

Craig Dootson, Rory Winters, Danny Wisdom, Jack Duggan, Jordan Tucker, Liam Wynn, Alex Randell, Alex Taylor (c), Scott Harries, Danny Williams, Kevin Leadbetter

Subs: Josh Kenworthy for Taylor (42), Ben Fishwick for Wynn (45)

Subs not used: Paul Alexander, Ian Kilford, Naim El-Harrati.

Key man: Scott Harries - Provided a constant threat and deserved his goal