A BEAUTIFULLY worked con-trick of a free kick gave Kendal the double over promotion chasing Belper Town.

With time running out at Parkside Jamie Close lined up a free-kick from just outside the Belper box.

As Kendal's tallest three players raced in from the left, Close shaped up to lob it up for a header then made the faintest of adjustments and stroked it low past the end of the four-man wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was a fitting home finale to the season for Town and for top scorer Close as they seriously dented Belper's hopes of a play-off place.

It had been a match, which again demonstrated that the difference between team in the UniBond League First Division is minimal and how, if a couple of mid season results had gone their way, it would have been Town who were vying for promotion.

When in passing mode Kendal looked the better of the two sides, but both teams wasted much energy in high balls which troubled neither defence.

Town fell behind to a sixth minute goal when a whipped in shot from the right was well saved by Lee Ward, unfortunately his parry fell Mark Walsh who lashed it into the roof of the net.

Five minutes later Gareth Jones had what appeared to be a legitimate shout for a penalty when he was elbowed, but play flowed to the other end where the dangerous Walsh cut across the face of the box before unleashing a shot which Ward did well to palm over the bar.

The equaliser arrived in the 19th minute, James Sheppard delivering a long ball into the heart of the Belper Box where Ian Simpson flicked it on to the inside of the far post. It bounced back along the goal line for Jones to stab it into the net.

Manager Peter Smith had indulged himself in some end-of-season experi-mentation with his side and there were promising performances from Kendal Town Reserves player Daniel Newby at left back and in midfield from youngster Russell McKenna, signed early this year from Morecambe.

With Lee Pennington controlling the right side of the defence and Richard Close in commanding form in the centre Belper were allowed few chances in the remainder of the first half.

The second half produced some excellent spells of crisp passing from Town, but defences dominated.

Jamie Close had a half chance with a shot on the turn, but it went straight to Belper keeper Gary Ingham.

On 71 minutes Ward produced a vital diving save as Liam Walshe for once escaped the back three.

A draw looked on the cards until the 89th minute when a trip just outside the box brought a free kick.

Close fooled the opposition to take Town above the

60-point mark for the season and ensure that even with two matches still to play, they will enjoy their highest finish since the league was restructured 15 years ago.

April 25, 2003 10:30