FREE-scoring Kendal Town banged in another four goals on Saturday against one of the best sides to visit Parkside this season.
Score: Kendal Town 4 AFC Telford Utd 2.
AFC Telford, formed after financial collapse of Conference League side Telford United have aspirations of a speedy return to higher league and, on this showing Town should be up there with them challenging for promotion to the UniBond League Premier Division next April.
Less than three minutes had passed when irrepressible Peter Smith, who was to run the left side of the Telford defence ragged all afternoon, whipped a cross from the bye-line into the heart of the box. David Foster met it with a perfect header to glance it wide of keeper Andy Pryce.
Stung into action, Telford were on terms three minutes later, Andreas Kattos looping a header over Kendal keeper Mark Thornley.
Despite the goal Town were already showing signs of taking control, with flowing passes and rapid breaks from midfield.
On 13 minutes Foster darted towards a poor back pass to the keeper and Pryce, in his hurry to boot it clear slammed it against Kattos' back and the ball rebounded and trickled over the line for 2-1.
The next goal was obviously going to be vital and Town stepped up the pressure with Foster skying a chance when put through by Ricky Mercer.
Mercer, Lee Ashcroft and Foster then combined in a move that was scrambled away from the Telford line.
At the other end Thornley was forced to make a fine diving save from a hard-struck Sean Parrish effort, but its generally Town who had the better of the half, although ill-discipline brought Mercer a yellow card for an off the ball scuffle just before the break.
Telford fought to get on terms early in the second half with shots by Kyle Perry and Parrish going wide. Town's back four held the line, however, and it was fitting that left-back Paul McMenemy, who had been outstanding in defence, should play a major part in the third goal.
On 66 minutes he suddenly appeared in the Telford half, split the defence and was clear on goal. Pryce did well to block his shot with his legs, but the ball skewed sideways for Mercer to crash it into the empty net.
Michael Jack came on for the tiring Foster and had a swift impact on the game. He ran the ball up the right wing and slipped it to Smith who had moved in to a central striking role. Smith pushed on a perfect cross for Kenny Mayers to direct his header inside the right post.
The 72nd-minute goal was just reward for Mayers who had done much good work as playmaker throughout the match.
Battling Telford pulled one back in the 81st minute when a swift break saw Parrish pick up the ball on the edge of the box to slam it past Thornley.
Thornley then pushed a shot round the post and also made a superb full-length diving save.
Kattos rattled the bar, but it was all too late for the visitors as Town's defence toughed out the final minutes.
How they rated: Thornley 9; Rigby 8, Whittal-Williams 8, Taylor 8 (McKenna 7 from 72 minutes), McMenemey 9; Smith 9, Woodruffe 7, Mercer 8, Ashcroft 7; Mayers 8, Foster 8 (Jack 7 from 70 minutes).
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