Kendal Town 1
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

UniBond League Premier Division
Tuesday 9 March 2010

KENDAL TOWN 1 NANTWICH TOWN 2
Taylor, 68 Flynn 34, Lennon, 81

The Dabbers stormed to their first away league win of 2010 with a determined display in the Lake District. A slick first-half show and gutsy performance in the second period was capped by an exquisite winner nine minutes from time from hitman Michael Lennon.

It proved to be third time lucky for Peter Hall’s charges after two previous trips to the Lakeland Radio Stadium had fallen foul of the notorious Lake District weather. This time, on a chilly night, the Dabbers deservedly brought the 3 points back down the M6 with a performance that gave their brave band of travelling fans hope for the remainder of the campaign.

After young keeper Ben Chapman denied Carl Osman in the first couple of minutes, the Dabbers gradually exerted themselves on the game. With Dave Whittaker putting in a captain’s display at centre half and former Crewe Alex midfielder Kevin Street pulling the strings in midfield, Nantwich dictated proceedings against the play-off hopefuls. Lennon had a goal disallowed and Street and Chris Flynn both had efforts saved by David Newnes in the home goal before the Dabbers went ahead on 34 minutes. Hard working Glyn Blackhurst found Lennon on the right side of the penalty area and after the Dabbers top scorer turned his defender and pulled the ball across the face of the goal, Flynn was on hand to drill past Newnes. There was a let off for the visitors just before the break when the towering George Melling rose above Whittaker but he couldn’t get on target his header from Kieran Walmsley’s corner.

The hosts stepped up a gear after the break and started to get a strangehold on the middle of the park. On the hour mark Peter Wright fired a shot wide as the Dabbers defence came under the cosh. It came as little surprise when Kendal equalised on 68 minutes. The impressive Walmsley whipped in a dangerous free kick from the left and Alex Taylor stole in between defenders and goalkeeper to prod home from close range.

A diving Chapman clawed Osman’s header round the post from Walmsley’s free-kick as Kendal looked to forge in front and the busy Osman then got clear to tee up Taylor who saw his shot blocked in a wall of green. But, rather than give up the ghost, the Dabbers showed their mettle and fought back. Omar Mahmoud almost latched on to a through ball down the middle but Newnes just got there first.

Then, with less than 10 minutes left on the clock, substitute Rodney Jack and Blackhurst combined well on the Nantwich right to set up Lennon in the penalty area. Last season’s UniBond Premier top scorer still had a lot to do but he shuffled past his man and drew the keeper before clipping it home for his 19th goal of the campaign.

It was a superb goal that capped a decent display from the hard-working Dabbers and there could even have been icing on the cake had young Lee McAnulty’s long range effort fizzed the right side of the upright. All in all, Nantwich deserved the points and their first half performance was as good as any they have produced this season.

Nantwich: Chapman, Aaron Carter, Tickle, Sutton, Whittaker, Street, Mahmoud, Blackhurst, Robinson, Lennon, Flynn. Subs: Jack (for Mahmoud,74), Madeley, Aspinwall (for Robinson,90), McAnulty (for Street,79). Attendance: 169

Match report written by Michael Chatwin