Kendal Town’s management duo believe their new strike force can help them pull away from relegation trouble in NPL West.
Warren Beattie and Dave Woodruff have been in charge at Parkside Road for under a month when a home win and a good away draw, have been followed by defeats at Widnes and on Saturday at home to Bootle.
But the latest game was the first time Scott McDonald and Nick Hepple had been paired upfront, and despite the 4-2 score-line Beattie and Woodruff were encourages.
Assistant manager Woodruff said: “We conceded a very early goal and in truth I think that was our problem, with too many heads starting to drop. We have to get that out of their way of thinking.
“It actually stemmed from a mistake by our new goalkeeper, James McClenaghan from one of his clearances which was hit right back with him out of position.
“To be fair to James he responded really well and had a very good game after that. He is a very good goalkeeper, who ticks all the boxes and we are very pleased to get him on board. Oliver Lombard was going back to Preston so we had to get someone in and are pleased to have got him.
“But the bottom line is if they hadn’t scored early I think it would have been a different game. In fact we nearly scored before they did when Scott McDonald had a shot cleared off the line.
“The trouble was they got a second before half-time and the main job at half-time was lifting spirits.
“What was encouraging was how Scott and Nick shaped-up together and I thjink we certainly have a goal threat. Nick got himself two goals and I’m really excited about Scott coming into this League.”
Woodruff also said that the Fleetwood mid-fielder, Akiel Raffie, looked a good young player who probably wasn’t used to the sticky underfoot conditions.
“You could see why he’s well thought-of by Fleetwood but will have been more at home with carpet-like playing surfaces,” he said.
Meanwhile Kendal have now confirmed that they have taken three young Fleetwood players on loan initially for a month with Billy Batch and Danny Edwards joining their team-mate at Parkside Road.
Kendal are back in action on Saturday in the League when they travel to Glossop North End.
