THIS fixture was crucial as both teams are scrambling for points to escape relegation from North West Division Five North, yet Kendal could only muster 10 players to travel, giving Cheetham Hill a numbers superiority to go with home advantage.

The hosts started with a determination to make the most of their spare player and Kendal struggled to get the ball out of their own half. The match hyad barely begun before Cheetham gained their first penalty corner. The resulting shot was deflected high in to the air from a defenders' stick then dropped into the goal.

Less than five minutes later Cheetham went further ahead, this time from open play as a good cross from the right was well met and sent just beyond keeper Josh Chacko.

In fact it was only a superb performance from Chacko that kept the score respectable. He made countless saves and completely dominated his area. His example provided the inspiration to keep heads up and produce a valiant 10-man team effort.

There were, however, few attempts on goal at the other end and only Ollie Murphy provided much of a threat in the first half.

Cheetham's spare man enabled long passes from Kendal to be easily intercepted, but Matt Clinton, Fran Tidmarsh, Iain Donaldson and Gordon Blunt worked tirelessly in defence to thwart innumerable penalty corners.

Chacko played like a man possessed, saving shot after shot and often smothering an attack before the shot could be made, but Kendal conceded a third goal just before the interval.

Given the situation, it was impressive to see Kendal play the second half in the positive way they did.

Steve Barclay and Ewan Galloway began to make more of an impression and the dynamic Stephen Johns played some quite flamboyant hockey in midfield. Sadly none of this turned in to clear-cut chances.

Cheetham eventually converted two of their many penalty corners, In the last 10 minutes Kendal began to threaten and a great run by Ewan Galloway ended in his trademark reverse stick shot being put over the bar by the goalkeeper. Galloway was back for more soon afterwards. This time keeping the ball on his open side he fired in a consolation goal for Kendal.