A SEMI-FINAL tie at high-flying UniBond Premier side Accrington Stanley awaits Kendal Town after they eventually saw off a resolute Clitheroe at Parkside on Tuesday evening.

On a bitterly cold evening falling temperature crisped up the pitch, but with the playing surface level, referee Joe Tylor was happy for the match to go ahead.

From the outset Peter Smith's in-form team took this Marsden BS Lancashire Junior Cup quarter-final to their

Lancashire visitors and David Foster almost gave his side a flying start, but Clitheroe centre back Mark Stewart hooked the ball off the line in the first minute.

Town created another chance on nine minutes. This time Ian Simpson's outstretched leg at the far post did not quite connect with Foster's deep cross.

Visiting goalkeeper Kris Richens made an important save on 16 minutes to deny James Sheppard after the diminutive winger's penetrating run had taken him well into the area.

It was Kendal with all the pressure and the visitors suffered a setback on 22 minutes when Jason Jones received his marching orders after striking out at Town midfielder Kyle Hayton. Ironically a free-kick was awarded to the visitors for the initial infringement and Stewart should have put Clitheroe ahead, but his shot was deflected for a corner.

The same player should have put away Andy Cowking's 56th-minute free-kick, but he somehow headed over from 10 yards.

Man of the match, Clitheroe keeper Richens was kept busy as he pulled off fine saves to deny effots from Foster and Phil Hodgson, but with extra-time looming, Ian Simpson claimed the final touch on a Hodgson header for the 86th minute goal which sent Kendal through to the Lancashire Junior Cup semi-finals for the first time in 21 years.

February 7, 2003 09:30