Play-off chasing Kendal Town suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at North Shields in the Northern League Division One.
But there were welcome home wins for Penrith – who beat Northallerton 4-1 and Carlisle City, 2-1 winners over Marske United.
Kendal have been making fast starts of late but they were caught-out this time with an early goal by the opposition.
It came on three minutes from the penalty spot after some poor defending and Jordan Lashley fired the home side ahead.
Kendal, who have been on the front-front for most of the season, couldn’t get going and conceded a second poor goal on 26 minutes, again from Lashley.
The Mintcakes seemed to lack energy, compared to their usual approach to a game and there was no doubt from manager Matt Flynn that the best team won on the day.
You can hear what he had to say below:
Penrith had been denied a win two weeks ago at Northallerton by a late equaliser, and had followed up with two 3-1 defeats against the top two sides Guisborough and Shildon.
But Jim Nichols’ men were comfortable winners in the return with Northallerton at Frenchfield and the only disappointment might have been that they didn’t win more than 4-1.
They were completely dominant in the first-half, turning round 4-0 to the good and looking as though they could quite easily go on to double that.
But second-half they didn’t take the chances that were created and the only goal came four minutes from the end by Northallerton’s Alistair Banks – from their only serious shot of the game.
Defender Kevin McKenna put Penrith in front after 16 minutes and they went on to produce some good football which had Northallerton defending desperately.
Three goals in an eight-minute spell emphasised Penrith’s dominance of the game as Connor Shields (30), Matthew Williamson (32) and Conor Hammell (38) all found the net.
You can hear what Jim Nichols thought about it below:
Carlisle City snatched an added time winner against Marske in what was a dream return for Rob McCartney.
Out for two years with an ACL injury, suffering a series of setbacks and at times thinking his career was over, he came on for the last 20 minutes and proved the match winner.
It wasn’t the best of games, and in truth a draw would probably have been a fair result, but City were due a change of luck and weren’t complaining.
Jay Kelly had put them in front on 19 minutes but Marske were level seven minutes before half-time through Ben Jackson.
Manager Dan Kirkup was on five minutes into the second-half and felt it was drifting away to an inevitable draw when McCartney popped up with the last-gasp winner in the third minute of time added on.
You can hear what Dan Kirkup thought of the win, and what it meant to Rob McCartney by listening below:
