Dunston FC vs Kendal Town FC Match report
Dunston FC vs Kendal Town
BetVictor Northern Premier N/West Division 14/12/19
Match report by: Dan Whalen.
Dunston continue to impress in a thrilling encounter.
Dunston moved up The a league table with an impressive 2-0 win at home to Kendal Town on a heavy pitch amidst wintery conditions. Cedwyn Scott opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a composed finish from close range. Despite the home side finishing the game with 10 men, as forward Mark Fitzpatrick was sent off for a second bookable offence, Dunston secured the victory in the final minutes as substitute Jake Stafford curled a sublime free kick into the bottom corner on the 90th minute.
Kendal Town had numerous chances of their own throughout the game but time and time again they were thwarted by Dunston keeper Karl Dryden, who in this game, put in a performance which had won him so many plaudits last season.
Chris Swailes went with the same starting line-up and 3-4-3 formation which had worked to so well in last weekends 2-0 win away to Mossley.
Dunston FC assistant manager Chris Errington explained “Swaz and I discussed how we could fit Cedwyn into the starting XI, I thought he was excellent today and in Scott Heslop we have a player who will run all day, win headers and his work rate is exactly what we expect at this Club. The three lads up top created problems for Kendal throughout the game”.
Below. Dunston FC’s in form striker Scott Heslop.
The opening 10 minutes signalled the general pattern of the game which was end to end football throughout. Luke Page drilled a shot wide of the post with Michael Pearson asserting his authority and industrious nature in the middle of the park from the off. In the opening stages of the game Cedwyn Scott was denied from close range by Kendal Town keeper Morgan Bacon, having been played in by a superb defence splitting pass from Mark Fitzpatrick. Kendal Town looked a threat on the break and could’ve and should’ve taken the lead through Elliott Moore, his glancing header going narrowly wide of the far post.
Callum Elliott found himself in the referees book on 13 minutes for a late challenge on Thomas Fagan. Despite the conditions the home side had played some neat football with Kendal playing a series of threatening crosses into the box. Christian Sloan played a intelligent ball in behind the Dunston defence from the half way line to release the impressive Emil Jasskelainan, the Blackpool loanee was prevented by the quick reactions of Karl Dryden who saved down low at his near post. Luke Page went close to giving Dunston the lead, flashing a low free kick from the edge of the box narrowly wide.
The Mintcakes had opportunities to take the lead, Kieron Maguire attempting a curling effort from the edge of box following some close and intricate passing in and around the Dunston box. Elliott Moore had flashed a threatening ball from wide across goal, thankfully for the hosts, there was not a green shirt there to connect. Dunston took the lead on 30 minutes, Michael Pearson winning possession found Luke Page who turned creator, slipping through a superb ball, having rode through a series of tackles his pass unpicked the Kendal defence and played the ball into the path of Cedwyn Scott who calmly stroked the ball into the net past the outstretched arms of Morgan Bacon.
Above: Cedwyn Scott opens the scoring for Dunston.
Kieron Maguire was denied an equaliser towards the end of the second half, yet again Dryden was out quickly and came out on top in a one on one situation. The home side had so far coped well with Kendal’s aerial attacks. Elliot Moore, beat the offside trap but yet again Dryden blocked the shot as Andrew Grant-Soulsby reacted quickly to clear the ball away. Dunston had the ball in the back of the net just before the break, an audacious back heel from Cedwyn Scott was played into the path of Scott Heslop, Kendal managed to scramble the ball out to the edge of the box only for Michael Pearson to fire an venomous shot which was parried into the path of Heslop, who knocked the ball into the net, only to be deemed offside.
Above: Man of the Match Cedwyn Scott plays a back heel into the path of Scott Heslop.
The second half was greeted by a heavy wintery down pour, as supporters raced for sanctuary in the stands. Dryden saved well at the feet of Joseph Dickson who latched onto a diagonal ball played in behind Callum Elliott. The same player fizzed a curling shot narrowly wide the hosts goal from the edge of the box having latched onto an out swinging corner. Dunston were forced into replacing Captain Dan Halliday with Jack Elliott, with the former picking up a knock. Kendal Town made changes of their own replacing Elliott Moore with Sean Paterson. The away side had looked a threat with balls over the top but at time could be accused of overplaying on a wet and heavy pitch. Cedwyn Scott went close to further extending the home sides lead, his first time volley hit wide from close range from a excellent Jack Elliott delivery, whose pace was creating serious issues for Kendals defence. Jake Stafford was brought on in replacement of Luke Page, a clever piece of game management as Staffords defensive ability balanced out the teams shape with Jack Elliott more of attacking compared to Dan Halliday's solid defensive game.
The final stages of the game were filled with moments of drama; Andrew Grant- Soulsby, Jake Stafford and Mark Fitzpatrick had all gone close to extending Dunston’s lead with the visitors struggling to contain Jack Elliott’s pace down the wing. Having already been booked moments earlier, Fitzpatrick was sent from the field of play for a late tackle. However the home side remained resolute and in the dying moments Cedwyn Scott latched onto a long ball on the counter attack, his strength on the ball put Seydou Bamba under pressure until the forward was eventually fouled having manoeuvred himself in front of the big centre half, his clumsy challenge on the edge of the box, with the centre forward in on goal resulted in a yellow card and a free kick. Up stepped Stafford, with a only slight movement he foiled the positional stance of the keeper and curled a superb low effort which nestled perfectly into the bottom as the clock struck 90 minutes.
Above: Dunston FC forward Mark Fitzpatrick.
Emil Jasskelainen went close to a consolation goal in injury time with a fiercely struck curling free kick as the referee drew a close to an entertaining game. After the game Chris Errington commented “The Pickering game gave everybody at the club a wake up call. Today we showed the quality we have. It may not have been the most prettiest of displays but the work rate we put in throughout the team was excellent and the lads delivered exactly what we expect at this club. Captain Dan Halliday “Both goals were superb, I thought we were sloppy at times but Cedwyn (Scott) and Karl (Dryden) were outstanding today”.
This game marks Dunston’s first back to back clean sheet of the League campaign and sends a message out to others in the competition of what this team is capable of doing. Grit, determination, high work rate and skill will go a long way towards pushing Dunston further up the table. This win sees Dunston move up from 18th to 15th as all sides below them, bar bottom placed Pickering Town, suffered defeat. Dunston, with 4 wins from 5 in all competitions face a difficult tie at home to Marine AFC next Saturday and will no doubt look to keep this level of performance going.
Final score: Dunston FC - 2 (Cedwyn Scott 30’ Jake Stafford 90’) Kendal Town -0.
Dunston Line -up: Dryden, C,Elliot, Halliday (C) (J,Elliott), Craig Scott, Grant-Soulsby, Capewell, Cedwyn Scott (Brooks), Pearson, Fitzpatrick, Heslop, Page (Stafford). Subs not used: Hall, Thear.
Dunston UTS FC Supporters Club Man of The Match award: Cedwyn Scott.
Cedwyn Scott is proudly sponsored by:
Home kit: FACT (on behalf of Dunston FC sub-committee)
Away kit: Impact Bathrooms @Tradesneeds.
Recovery equipment: Dunston UTS FC Supporters Club.
Dunston FC are proudly sponsored by UTS Engineering Ltd
Match Images courtesy of Beauty Time Photography.