SECOND-half specialists Kendal Town did it again as two late goals from Jamie Close enlivened a game which, until then, had hardly been memorable.

Final score was Kendal Town 2-Rossendale United 0.

The two superbly taken goals by Close came in the 84th and 87th minutes to complete their second home--and-away double' following the three late goals which last week took the points at Eastwood Town.

On a bitterly cold day at Parkside the early phases of the game did little to warm the crowd and Town had an enforced change after 15 minutes when midfielder Lee Blamire ricked his back.

Manager Peter Smith took the bold decision to replace him with Ian Simpson as an extra striker.

Perhaps it was not such a gamble, as both sides looked rock solid in defence and Eastwood were limited to a series of hopeful long shots which drifted over or wide.

It was not until the 38th minute that slow-starting Town produced one of the flowing passing movements of which they are capable, Simpson feeding Gareth Jones who slipped the ball to Jamie Close who beat the last defender, but then put his shot wide.

Three minutes later another fine passing move was started by Gary Prosser on the right wing, Jamie Close took it on and squared it inside to Stuart Cliff whose shot was turned round the post by John Gillies.

Yet Town could have gone into the interval several goals down for in the final minutes of the half Lee Ward had to dive full-length to produce two quality saves from shots by Chris Perkins and Carl Stanford. He also stopped a second shot from Stanford and Cliff turned another Rosssendale attempt round the post.

At half time the crowd was wondering if they would see a goal, but five minutes after the restart Smith replaced Jones with the speedy David Foster and on the right and he and James Sheppard on the left began to stretch the visitors' defence.

With Damian Corcoran playing probably his best game so far for Kendal just ahead of the back three, Town began to look a more potent force as the game wore on.

Prosser followed a run down the right with a good delivery to Foster on the edge of the box and his looping shot went narrowly over.

From a long corner Steve Hodgson, replacing his brother Phil, who was unavailable, headed into the side netting.

Foster saw another shot deflected for a corner, and then appeared to be tripped in the box, but no penalty was awarded.

In the 84th minute Ward made a long clearance from a half-hearted Rossendale attack. The ball fell to Jamie Close who sent it out left to Simpson. He headed towards the area and found Foster, who flicked it right to Close who drilled it into the top corner from 10 yards.

Four minutes later another swift attack down the left saw Close run on to a through ball to on the edge of the area and he slid the ball past the onrushing keeper to complete the 2-0 victory and extend Town's unbeaten league run to six games.

January 10, 2003 10:31