Football – Town make a fight of it against Man U Reserves

12:20am Tuesday 4th May 2004

Kendal Town 0, Manchester United Reserves 1.

Surprisingly Kendal Town were unlucky not to win this game against their illustrious opponents.

Around 2,000 people packed in to Parkside to admire the soccer skills of Manchester's youngsters, but those talents were nullified by the stout defence honed in the harsh reality of the UniBond League First Division For 20 minutes United stroked the ball around and pinned Town back, but Kendal began to realise that for all the show no real chances were being produced.

They responded by taking the game to United and were unlucky not to score from four good chances created before half-time.

The interval effectively ended the game as a meaningful contest, for in the second half both managers continually rang the changes, with players coming and going from the pitch every few minutes.

In the 68th minute Town striker Chris Bennett went down to a challenge. It looked like a penalty, but Bennett's fall may have been a little to spectacular for the referee's liking It was not until the 81st minute that Manchester finally unlocked the solid Town defence, a corner falling kindly for Kenny Cooper to pick his spot beyond substitute keeper Andy Davies.

Manchester fielded none of their established stars, but with first team fringe players like the lightening fast Kieran Richardson, solid central defender Jonathan Spector and the inventive Chris Eagles in the side it was no mean feat for Kendal to come out of the game just one goal down.

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