Kendal Town earned great credit from the club chairman Michael O’Neill after bouncing back from the disappointment of losing a Cup semi-final.
The Mintcakes had been well beaten 3-0 at home to Congleton Town in the Macron Cup but 48 hours later scored a dramatic late winner to beat Longridge Town 2-1.
O’Neill said: “I’m afraid we were flat and look drained in the Cup game and a long season seemed to show on us. We had no complaints about the result and wish Congleton all the best in the final.”
A crowd of over 300 saw the visitors go through with goals from Ethan Hartshorn (13), Lewis Short (47 pen) and Tom Pope (72) and they will play Bacup Borough in the final after they beat St Helens on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their semi-final.
O’Neill went on: “To lose the semi-final and then bounce back with a League week at Longridge two days later was great credit to the team. I’m really proud of the effort put in by the team to put in such a strong performance in what essentially is our local derby.
“Their goalkeeper was man of the match which gives an idea of how we played and we now have three games left to complete our season.”
Longridge had led 1-0 at the break but Steve Yawson levelled on 64 minutes with a back post header from Ryan Winder’s corner.
The winner came in the 90th minute when Ishaq Ibrar kept his cool to slot the ball home when put through on goal.
Kendal, who will finish their first season in the North West Counties League in mid-table are at home to Burscough on Saturday and travel to Ashton Town on April 22.
The final game is at home to Penrith reserves in the final of the Westmorland County Cup on April 29.
For the final home League game on Saturday Kendal are offering free entry to all grassroots footballers – provided they wear their club colours.
