TIME-served experience overcame youthful endeavour as Corinthians FC struck twice in the space of two minutes to take a firm grip on the Westmorland Car Sales Senior Cup at Parkside on Tuesday evening, writes Richard Daniels.

Fielding a side with only three players over the age of 20, Kendal Town Reserves went into the showpiece as clear underdogs.

But the Westmorland League third division side fully justified their final appearance

They chased and battled their hearts out to give their title-chasing West Lancashire League opponents a serious test, diminishing the gap of several league levels that existed between the side.

Ultimately it was Corinthians goalscorers' keen scent for unlocking defences at set-pieces which decided the issue.

Town matched the Milnthorpe side and had most of the territorial advantage in the first half without posing a serious threat inside the penalty box.

Then, against the run of play, Corinthians broke the deadlock in the 18th minute after a defender's impatient challenge on the veteran Brian Fleming at the corner-flag.

Ironically it was Craig Walmsley, who has lent his services to Kendal's senior squad lately, who turned upon Jamie Close's free kick to near post and hooked it beyond keeper Stuart Parkin into the far corner.

Tenacious defending and admirable discipline under several stern physical challenges, which led to the early substitution of Andrew Hayton, enabled Kendal to stay in the contest.

Town's most tempting scoring chance of the first half came nine minutes from the break when Kevin Pickering beat his marker with a nimble piece of ball control and squared a pass for Steve Ellwood, who blasted his shot over the bar from 22 yards out.

Confidence undimmed, Town kept the ball well at the start of the second half and the midfield tussle that had typified the first half began to relent.

After a couple of forays forward, Pickering forced a finger-tip save from Hornby with a looping header as Corinthians sat back on their lead.

Everything changed in a short space of time when Walmsley's 68th-minute corner-kick was flicked on by Fleming and Jamie Close forced the ball into the net in the busy six-yard box.

Two minutes later, Corinthians exposed Town's weak-spot again when Fleming escaped his marker and turned in a header to make it 3-0.

Town knew their dream was over, but their persistence was rewarded with a well-worked goal two minutes from the end when full back Rob Williams got wide after a neat 1-2 and arrowed the ball into the area for Pickering to nip in between two defenders and score a well-deserved consolation.

Corinthians boss Barry Johnson said: "Town were a good, fit young side but they never really threatened us and our experience wore them down."

Town manager Andy Major said: "It was a sporting final and we matched them in many respects and that's got to be good for this club."

Teams: Kendal Town - S.

Parkin, R.

Williams, G.

Major, D.

Newby, J.

Wilson, D.

Regan (M.

Thompson 75min), C.

Park (G.

Hayton 75min), T.

Hodkinson, S.

Ellwood, K.

Pickering, A.

Hayton (C.

Redhead 21min).

Milnthorpe Corinthians: A.

Hornby, N.

Hayton, M.

Wills, L.

Blamire, D.

Shaw, R.

Gander, J.

Close, P.

Gratton, A.

Towler, B.

Fleming, C.

Walmsley (L.

Watson 70min).

Unsued subs: J.

Ellwood, L.

Banks.

Referee: P.

McDonnell.

Assistants: K.

Wharton & S.

Murdock.