Kendal United vs 
February 24
Kendal Utd 0, Wattsfield Utd 9
Playing against a team that had absolutely hammered us two weeks ago, Kendal knew they were playing for pride as much as anything else in this league encounter.
Thankfully, the boys had listened to Tim's call for a much better perrformance and the final scoreline didn't entirely do them justice.
It took at least 15 minutes for Wattsfield to score their first goal, and the 3-0 halftime scoreline was an indication of how much better the team played this time round.
Indeed, with a little more luck in front of goal, the difference could have been even narrower, as shots from Ben Shepherd and Jordan Nesbitt went very close.
Instead of standing off their opponents, Kendal pressed the play and didn't give the visitors time to show off their fancy footwork.
The boys continued to take the game to Wattsfield after the break, but gradually tiredness started to creep in and gaps started to appear in the defence, where Mattie Barber and Conor Stephenson put in sterling performances.
Wattsfield scored three times in rapid succession in the closing minutes, but this was a much more committed display by a Kendal side that continues to improve.
Most bizarre moment of the game had to be the Wattsfield striker who beat Kendal's defence and was walking the ball into the net when inexplicably he tried to back flick the ball and missed an open goal from two feet out!!!
February 10
Jackson Cup
Wattsfield Utd 20, Kendal Utd 1
Dan Shepherd gave Kendal the lead but after a bright start the wheels really came off big time against an older, bigger and stronger side who took full advantage.
February 3
Tesco Cup U13s Semi-Final
Kendal United 2, Ibis 3
What an absolutely cracking match in which every one of our players gave their all from the first whistle to the last.
We were first to every ball, won most of the 50-50 tackles and played some really good football on a day when, in my opinion, the better side didn't win.
Yes, we were gutted to get knocked out but everyone can hold their heads up high after a really storming performance - probably the best this season.
We were virtually camped out in Ibis' half of the pitch during the first half, when we had the wind behind us, and when Ben Powell put us into the lead it was only fair, based on the balance of play. 1-0.
With the strong, gusting winds at their backs, Kendal Utd really got stuck into the opposition and should really have been two up at the break. Only a dodgy offside flag from the Ibis linesman denied captain Bradley Dodds, who slotted home after their keeper had palmed away a shot by Ben.
Despite playing into the wind in the second half, Kendal continued to take the game to the visitors and Ben once again came up trumps with a low drive into the net. 2-0.
That seemed to gee up Ibis, who started to look a bit more dangerous in attack, and our keeper Michael Smith made some fine saves, including a full length dive to push a shot around the post.
Ibis then started using the long high ball for their strikers to run on to, and scored two goals in quick succession to level the tie.
It was then anyone's game and Kendal certainly had some chances, hitting the bar for a second time in the match.
However, it wasn't to be and Ibis again used the pace of their strikers to take the lead for the first time in the match. 2-3
Still Kendal kept up the attack and an Ibis player was rightly booked for a lungeing two-footed tackle on Ben.
So Kendal were denied the chance of playing in a cup final, but the lads deserve fullsome praise for their performance. I was proud of every one of them, and I know Tim and Andy were too.
January 27
Westmorland & Furness Cup, 2nd round
Kendal United 0, Ulverston Rangers 13
We were soundly beaten by an older, stronger and faster team.
January 13, 2008
Wattsfield Borough 9, Kendal Utd 3
Final scores don't always tell the full story of football matches, and this was one of those games.
Playing an older team (again), Kendal more than held their own for much of the match but were let down partly by some dodgy decisions that went against them.
In what was largely an even game, Wattsfield took their chances when presented to them and were four goals up after 20 minutes (including one goal where two players were clearly offside, but that's another story!).
But Kendal kept their heads up and had their share of the play and were rewarded with a goal from Ben, scoring with a volley that gave the keeper no chance.
After the break, Wattsfield extended their lead with three more goals (one of which had passed Kendal's byeline by a couple of feet before being crossed and should have been a goal kick, but hey, no worries!).
Still Kendal kept battling and Dan scored a second on the half hour, quickly followed by a Kieran Harding free kick that was fumbled by their keeper.
The goals seemed to jolt Wattsfield, who to be fair had the wind behind them in the second half, and they scored two more goals to make the final score 9-3.
But Kendal at times played some skillful, passing football and the final score flattered the home side.
January 6, 2008
Heathwaite Utd 2, Kendal Utd 5
A great start to 2008 - as Tim put it, the best we've played so far this year!
But the game didn't get off to the greatest of starts, with Kendal going a goal behind within two minutes of kick-off after failing to clear their lines inside the penalty area. 1-0.
After getting over the initial shock of conceding a goal to the league's bottom team, Kendal started to get into the game against opponents who were probably better than we expected.
Jordan Nesbitt equalised on 21 minutes with a fine goal when he ran down the byeline, turned inside and planted a low shot into the corner of the net. 1-1.
But instead of kicking on, we allowed Heathwaite back into the game and they retook the lead four minutes later. 2-1
Back came Kendal showing the sort of determination that has stood them in good stead this season, with Conor Stephenson winning the ball in the middle of Heathwaite's half, and then playing a neat one-two before sending a shot over their keeper. 2-2 and half time.
After the break, Kendal raised their game with the players starting to find their passes and breaking up Heathwaite's attacks. Skipper Bradley Dodds seemed to crop up everywhere, making a vital shot-stopping tackle one minute, then going on a mazy run up the other end of the pitch the next!
Jordan put Kendal in front for the first time in the match with another good run and shot after 37 minutes, which gave the team a timely lift. 2-3
Dan Shepherd increased the lead on 53 minutes by cooly chipping the keeper. 2-4
And Jordan put the icing on the cake by completing his hat-trick, showing good control before slotting home from inside the penalty area after 67 minutes, to put the match well beyond Heathwaite. 2-5
This was a very good result and performance by Kendal, who were missing top scorer Ben Powell but still proved too good for their hosts.
December 2
Milnthorpe & Dist 12, Kendal Utd 2
It was back down to earth with a bang for Kendal with this heavy defeat on an even heavier pitch - the only U14s match to be played because of bad weather, in fact.
Any hopes Kendal had of building on last week's wonderful performance and victory soon evaporated as Milnthorpe showed yet again what a classy side they are.
Raids down both flanks yielded the first four goals, with Kendal not helping their cause by leaving too many Milnthorpe players unmarked in dangerous positions.
It wasn't all one-way traffic, but a half-time scoreline of 9-0 to the home side suggested Kendal were on course for their heaviest defeat of the season.
Strong words from Tim at half-time, however, seemed to pay off and Kendal were a totally different team, playing with purpose, determination and no little skill which seemed to surprise Milnthorpe.
In no time at all, Kendal were on the score sheet thanks to a good run and shot by top scorer Ben Powell.
Even better was to follow when another shot by Ben struck the post and captain Bradley Dodds was on hand to pounce and hit the rebound into the net.
Suitably shaken from their apparent slumbers, Milnthorpe gradually got back into the game and scored three more goals to earn a comfortable victory.
But if Kendal could have played in the first half as they did for much of the second half, it could well have been a different story.
November 25
Burneside 2, Kendal Utd 3
If a week is a long time in politics, that old adage also applies to Kendal Utd, who were barely recognisable from the side that lost so heavily last week.
Yet they started where they left off, with the home side taking an early lead with their first attack of the match.
With their left winger looking decidedly dangerous, the writing was on the wall for Kendal but they got as grip of the midfield, stopped the supply of through balls and started to make headway in the opposition's half.
When Conor Stephenson hit a high, and probably hopeful, ball towards the Burneside goal, it looked like their keeper had it covered, but he allowed it through him and the ball ended up in the net to make it 1-1 and game on.
In what was an open and very even match, Kendal enjoyed some good fortune when the home side first hit the post and then keeper Michael Smith tipped a shot on to the cross bar in two separate attacks, while Ben Powell went close with two efforts.
It was third time lucky for Ben when he coolly rounded their keeper and scored from close range, to put Kendal in front. 2-1.
And leading scorer Ben then extended the lead after some really good work to set him up by Conor. 3-1 at the break.
With the lads visibly buoyed by their performance, Tim's half-time team talk was all about keeping it tight and giving nothing away after the re-start.
Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan and Burneside were back in the game within a couple of minutes. 3-2.
With the match finely balanced, Burneside went looking for an equaliser and again hit the post. Michael then pulled off a brilliant full diving save to keep out the home side.
At the other end, Kendal were still threatening, with both Ben and Dan Shepherd both going close.
As the minutes ticked by, it was becoming nail-biting stuff and another Burneside shot just whistled past the post before Michael made another fine save to deny the opponents.
Kendal were living on their nerves, and Michael made a brave goal-line save and got a kick in the head for his trouble.
Then, wonderfully, the full-time whistle was finally blown and Kendal could celebrate their best performance of the season so far. Awesome, to quote Tim!
A great team effort, with Ben once more among the goals, Conor and Dean battling well in central midfield, Dan showing good skill allied to hard work on the right wing, Jordan Nesbitt cropping up everywhere, clearing up the danger and turning defence into attack, Mattie Barber and Bradley Dodds doing sterling work in central defence, Stephen Calvert and Kieran Harding stopping Burneside getting round the back of our defence, Joe Herbert putting in some vital tackles, and Michael (the Burneside manager's man of the match!) pulling off some excellent saves.
November 18
Kendal Utd 0, Wattsfield Wanderers 9
The scoreline doesn't tell the full story of this disappointing defeat for Kendal against a side of the same age.
For in the first half, it was a fairly even contest and on another day the home side could have scored a couple of goals themselves.
Wattsfield went into the break three up after a goal just before half time that seemed to knock the stuffing out of Kendal.
And to be fair, the visitors were the better side in the second half, when they at times they were camped in Kendal's half of the pitch and scored six more goals.
The lads can play much better than this. Maybe they just need a bit more belief in themselves when they play against the so-called bigger clubs. I'm sure that will come, and victories will be even sweeter as a result!
November 11
Dallan Tower Cup U14s
Grange & Dist 7, Kendal Utd 3
Kendal put in another sterling performance against another big, strong side in this second round cup tie.
The visitors were clearly up for the game from the start and both sides had shots just over the bar before Grange took the lead with a header from a corner.
Kendal kept battling against a physically strong team and had a goal from Ben disallowed, presumably for a foul.
Grange scored a second but the visitors' heads didn't go down and Ben had another chance, this time his shot just going wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.
Grange went into half-time with a two goal lead, but within four minutes of the restart, Kendal were back on level terms, despite playing into the wind.
First Ben continued his fine scoring run with a well-taken goal, and then Stephen Calvert was in the right place to bring Kendal level.
It was then anyone's game, with Kendal more than matching the home side for a long period of play. But it was Grange that retook the lead and then extended it when Kendal were first unable to clear a goalmouth scramble, and then the home side scored with a header from a cross.
There was then a lengthy delay when one of the Grange players slid in for a ball in the Kendal penalty area that, quite frankly, he was never going to reach, and hurt his leg in what was a complete accident.
Kendal made it 5-3 when Dan Shepherd went on a good run and scored with a shot to the far corner.
But with the game becoming stretched, Grange were hitting us on the break and scored another, this time from the penalty spot after Bradley Dodds was adjudged to have fouled one of their players.
And there was time for the hosts to score a seventh, probably the best goal of the game, a header from a cross.
They may have lost the game, but Kendal can still hold their heads high after another committed performance, more than matching their opponents for long spells in the game.
November 4
Kendal Utd 1, Kirkby Stephen 3
Despite missing top scorer Ben Powell, Kendal put in probably their best performance of the season so far.
Playing against a mixed age team with several sizeable lads, Kendal more than held their own and were unfortunate to end on the losing side.
The visitors took an early lead, but afterwards it was the home team that threatened more on goal.
After several half chances failed to go in, Kendal pulled level with a well-worked goal finished off by Jordan Nesbitt.
Kirkby were then awarded a penalty, which was put wide of the left post, and the teams went in at the break at 1-1, with the game there to be won by either side.
Kirkby Stephen's strikers had been caught offside countless times in the first half by Kendal's well-drilled defence, but their manager had clearly had a few words during the break and they started to get a grip on the game, making several goal chances, including one shot that struck the post and was cleared to safety.
Kendal gradually got back into the game and created several chances of their own. Jordan Nesbitt was unlucky not to win a penalty when he was fouled in the area but the referee (who had a good game) waved play on. One of the visiting KS parents later admitted it was a "stone wall penalty" and said he couldn't believe it wasn't given.
With the game reaching the final stages, Kirkby Stephen sprung our offside trap and scored a well-taken goal to take the lead.
Refusing to be beaten, Kendal went in search of an equaliser but it wasn't to be and Kirkby grabbed a third with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that somehow went through a crowd of players.
Full credit to the whole team for a super performance that was worthy of at least a draw. Well done lads - same again next week please!
October 28
Dales Utd 9, Kendal Utd 2
Kendal suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of an older and bigger team.
Playing the first half downhill on what must be one of the steepest pitches in the league, Kendal took an early lead through top scorer Ben Powell.
The home side were soon back on level terms and then went ahead through two well-talen goals.
But Ben was again on the score sheet with an equaliser, and the teams went in level at half-time, partly thanks to some fine saves by Kendal keeper Michael Smith.
It was always going to be tough after the break, playing uphill against an older side, who made good use of the slope to get in behind Kendal's defence.
Nonetheless, Kendal kept their heads up and had chances of their own from Ben and Dan Shepherd that would have gone in on another day.
Captain Bradley Dodds made a welcome return from injury and showed what we have been missing in his absence.
Mattie Barber was another rock in defence, making one goal-line clearance that saved an almost certain goal.
Even one of the Dales coaches said at the end that the scoreline was not a fair reflection of the game, which I think said it all.
October 21
Kendal Utd 6, Appleby 1
Kendal Utd booked their place in the semi-final of the Tesco U13s Cup with a convincing win.
Yet the margin of victory masked what was a fairly even game for 20 minutes of the first-half.
There were chances for both sides, but thankfully it was Kendal's leading scorer Ben Powell who got the vital first goal with a well taken goal.
The visitors' heads went down, and Kendal took full advantage with two further goals in quick succession, through Dean Stevenson and Joe Herbert, who was perfectly placed to tuck the ball into an empty net.
Ben added a second - and Kendal's fourth - before the break, neatly side-stepping a desperate sliding tackle and rounding the keeper oh so coolly. The cup tie then seemed to be over as a contest.
But fair play to Appleby who came out fighting in the second half and had several efforts on Kendal's goal.
But it was Dan Shepherd who added to Kendal's lead before Appleby finally got past home keeper Michael Smith to get a deserved consolation goal.
But Kendal weren't finished yet and Dan finished off a good move to score his second and put the game well beyond any doubt.
October 14: Ibis Utd 14-2
Another tough game against opponents a year older, and with three of the back four from the last game missing, this was never going to be easy.
Ibis stormed into an early two goal lead but then full credit to the lads. They got stuck in, played some good football and got a deserved goal from Ben Powell.
That seemed to jolt the home team into action and they stepped up a gear.
Despite that, Kendal still went into half-time with a respectable 6-2 scoreline, thanks to top scorer Ben finding the net again.
After the break, though, Kencal may have been playing downhill, but the game was definitely all up hill as Ibis took advantage of their extra strength to overpower the visitors' defence.
Well played though lads, you gave it your best shot, and it was good to see injured captain Doddsy supporting from the touchline. He was definitely missed.
September 23 Kendal Utd 7, Grange Utd 1
What a terrific performance by the whole team, who took Tim's advice to heart after the disappointing result against Appleby the previous week.
Kendal Utd fell a goal behind soon after kick-off, after an unlucky mix-up in the home side's penalty box.
But heads didn't go down and instead the lads out in their best performance of the season so far.
By half-time, they had turned the game completely on its head by scoring five goals without reply.
Grange barely had a shot on goal as the rejigged formation worked a treat, with the twins, Conor and Dean Stevenson, working wonders in central midfield, while captain Bradley Dodds moved back to form a new central defence partnership with Mattie Barber.
Ben Powell was the star of the show, scoring five goals in the match, while Joe Herbert and Dan Shepherd also got on the score sheet.
The final scoreline in no way flattered the home side - in fact, it could have been even more! Well done everyone!
September 30: Milnthorpe Utd 16, Kendal Utd 0.
Illness meant I missed this match, though I'm (reliably) told goalie Michael Smith had a decent game, despite the scoreline.
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