Kendal Town vs Shildon

Recap

MATCH REPORT BY WILF TRAY _{(edited by Michael Wilson)}

A six‑goal thriller in Cumbria as Shildon miss chance to go top

Shildon were made to settle for a point on a breathless afternoon at Parkside Road, denied top spot in the table after a chaotic second half saw the lead change hands three times in the space of six minutes.

The opening 45 somehow remained goalless despite both sides carving out clear chances. Shildon’s best opportunities fell to Luke Spalding, twice sent clean through. One effort forced a sharp save; the other flew high and wide. The visitors did have the ball in the net, only for Ben Reay to be penalised for interfering with play as he stepped over the ball from an offside position.

The deadlock finally broke seven minutes into the second half. Spalding, lively throughout, delivered a teasing cross from the right and Adam Lennox rose to guide a precise header beyond the keeper. From there, the match became a full‑tilt end‑to‑end contest.

Kendal levelled on 74 minutes through DJ Taylor, despite strong Shildon appeals for offside. The visitors responded instantly: just 90 seconds later Spalding cut in from the right and drilled a low finish into the far corner to restore the lead. But Shildon’s advantage evaporated almost immediately. A defensive mix‑up saw the ball ricochet off the post, leaving Jamie Looker with the simplest of tap‑ins.

Kendal were reduced to ten men when Taylor collected a second yellow, yet the hosts struck what looked to be the decisive blow four minutes from time. Looker produced a moment of real quality, rifling a superb strike into the top corner to put Kendal 3–2 ahead.

Shildon refused to fold. Deep into stoppage time, Billy Greulich‑Smith rose highest to power home a dramatic 92nd‑minute equaliser. The visitors threw bodies forward in search of a winner, but the final whistle confirmed a draw that, on balance, felt about right.

A missed opportunity to climb to the summit, perhaps — but a pulsating contest and a performance that showed Shildon’s resilience in abundance.

Attendance: 305