WITH a blank fixture tomorrow (Saturday), Kendal Town boss Peter Smith will have a chance to collect his thoughts after witnessing his side being comprehensively beaten by a rampant Chorley side on Tuesday evening.

The late arrival of striker Ian Simpson, who missed out after being held up in motorway traffic, and the loss of James Sheppard to an eighth-minute injury did not help Kendal' s cause, but the fact that Town were totally outplayed will give Smith cause for concern.

Neat footwork by Sheppard on four minutes saw him make room for himself, but his low curling effort took a late deflection to force the first corner of the game.

The opening goal arrived on 18 minutes when a near-post corner had the Town defence in trouble and Andy Mason scrambled the ball home in a mle of bodies.

A mistimed challenge by Kyle Hayton felled Chorley's David Lowe and Mason converted the 26th-minute spot kick.

On 32 minutes Craig Walmsley chased down sub Stuart Cliff's through ball, but was brought down as he was about to shoot.

The same player picked himself up only to have his penalty well saved by player-manager Mark Molyneaux.

Two minutes into the second half Jamie Close's cross was met by the head of Lee Blamire, but the ball struck a defender and was deflected wide of goal.

Chorley wrapped up the contest in the 56th minute with a goal of quality.

Lee Wilkinson was picked out by ex-Parksider Danny Kent and he unleashed a superb 25 yard volley across keeper Lee Ward into the far corner to make it 3-0.

The home side then began to dominate and were apparently full of football.

Full back Varley ventured on a run from deep only to be denied by the leg of Phil Hodgson.

The fourth goal arrived on 83 minutes when another former Kendal favourite, striker Darren Emmett converted a cross from Wright.

Kendal's Mike McKechnie almost grabbed a consolation a minute later, but his powerful drive struck the crossbar

In the final minute Mason completed his hat-trick from the corner of the box after getting on the end of an Emmett cross.

Chorley - 5, Kendal Town - 0.