Kendal Town 0 - 2 Clitheroe

Despite the lack of lustre surrounding the competition and with the competing attractions of England on the box, the travelling Clitheroe fans were rewarded for their efforts with a good competitive game of football.

With Wes Benjamin making his first reappearance in a Blue shirt since his move to Witton, Simon shuffled the squad, but with more than enough quality on the pitch to do the business. Clitheroe fully dominated the first half with their passing game and it was the Blues who took the lead on three minutes, when a wicked James Walker corner was nodded home by Dimitri Tuanzebe. Kendal had their first chance on 14 minutes and it was a close run thing, as the forward lashed a through ball against the bar.

On 18 minutes, Tuanzebe received the ball, shrugged off one challenge, headed for goal and slammed his shot into the side netting. One minute later, the youthful Kendal keeper made a terrific double save after a Joe Mitchell cross caused mayhem in the home defence. On 34 minutes, Kurt Willoughby almost extended the lead as he rounded the keeper but the stopper recovered instantly to fling himself to block the shot. However, the lead was expended on 42 minutes when Brad Carroll went on a mazy run and his through ball saw the defenders first nibble at Willoughby’s ankles and then drop Tuanzebe. Carroll took control of the spot kick and converted.

The second half was slightly more even, but the better chances fell Clitheroe’s way. Tuanzebe went close, Kendal shaved the bar but the only real controversy was in the 71st minute, when Christian Paulat-Brigg came to meet a ball bouncing towards him, but as he recalibrated his run, he came together with the forward. The referee awarding a throw in was not universally well received by the home team.

A solid performance by the Blues, not least from the returning Benjamin who looked very sharp, and it sets them up nicely for a run of league games they will be looking to win to get back in the play off hunt.

Team: Paulat-Brigg, Benjamin, Walker, Roberts, Rowlands, Russell, Mitchell, Carroll, Willoughby, Williams, Tuanzebe.
Subs used: Newby, Bolton, Cattermole
Sub not used: Thompson