By Ashley Houghton
A late Josh Kenworthy strike stopped Nantwich Town taking all three points against Kendal at the Weaver Stadium.
Lewis Short gave Jimmy Quinn’s men the lead on the hour as the Dabbers looked set for two wins out of two.
But a failure to create clear openings and a defensive lapse cost Nantwich dear as they dropped two points at home in front of more than 300 supporters.
The Dabbers were unchanged from the side that thumped Matlock Town 5-0 on Saturday, but they struggled to reach the standards of their win in Derbyshire.
The visitors started brightly and had a good chance after just two minutes as Rory Winters’ header, from Kevin Leadbetter’s free-kick, forced a good save from Jon Brain.
Nantwich created chances of their own in an entertaining opening period as Kyle Wilson volleyed Short’s knock back against the post from point blank range.
The Cumbrians were always a threat, in particularly from set pieces, and their captain Marc Joseph headed a good chance over from Alex Randell’s corner.
Kendal had the best chance of the half on the stroke of half-time as Danny Williams cut-back for Kenworthy but the striker’s effort was well saved by Brain.
The Dabbers started the second-half much brighter and went close when Wilson latched on to Mark Beesley’s pass but his shot was deflected wide.
Sean Cooke was again lively throughout and he crossed well for Short moments later but the former Northwich Victoria man headed straight at Craig Dootson in the Kendal goal.
Short made amends for that earlier miss on 59 minutes as he got in behind Winters and slotted into the Kendal goal.
Kendal looked to lack a cutting edge as they searched for an equaliser with Kenworthy squandering a good opportunity as he blasted over from the edge of the area.
Nantwich had a chance to secure the win when Christian Smith headed over Caspar Hughes’ free-kick from inside the six yard box.
The equaliser came four minutes from time as Kenworthy got in behind the Dabbers defence after a sustained period of pressure and slotted past Brain.
Nantwich pushed hard for a late winner and came close one minute into stoppage time as Smith flicked Hughes’ corner on for Rod McDonald but the Dabbers centre-back volleyed over.
Nantwich: Brain, Lowe, Flynn ©, Hughes, Bailey, McDonald, Cooke, McLachlan (Smith, 76), Beesley (Jones, 83), Wilson, Short. Subs: Maguire, Lane, Campbell.
(all pics by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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