NWCL Premier side Nelson ran out 5-0 winners against a disapointing Kendal Town at Victoria Park on Saturday. Town began brightly and had the greater share of the possession in the early going with the Nelson defence tested by some dangerous attacks and a series of shots that were cleared from the home goalmouth. Lee Mulvaney was a constant threat and it needed a good save by Billy Carrington in a one-on-one confrontation after 22 minutes to keep the scoresheet blank. The home team rode out the storm and grew in confidence especially when they took the lead after 26 minutes. Martin Payne's well measure through ball released Sam Heap through the middle of Kendals' defence and he finished confidently with a low shot past advancing keeper Tom Bush. Carl Osman jinked his way into the Nelson penalty area and his deflected shot almost deceived Billy Carrington who gratefully grabbed the ball on the goal-line as Kendal pressed for an equaliser. On 42 minutes, Towns' defence was caught out again by a long punt upfield from Carrington just as Sam Heap returned to the field from receiving treatment and, when the ball was knocked on to him, he raced clear to slot in Nelson's second goal with another confident finish. Six minutes after half time, Nelson won a free kick 40 yards from goal and Marc Taylor's long high ball deceived Bush as it came out of the sun and dropped into the top corner of the net to give Nelson a three goal lead. Kendal became more aggressive in an attempt to unsettle a Nelson side that appeared to be cruising and Nathan Benson and Alex Miller both required lengthy treatment from uncompromising tackles. Lee Mulvaney almost pulled a goal back for the visitors after 69 minutes when his shot struck the underside of the Nelson crossbar and bounced down in the goalmouth before being scrambled clear, and substitute goalkeeper Chris Thompson made a vital tackle to stop Zach Clark inside his penalty area minutes later. Kendal thought they should have had a penalty after 75 minutes when Clark went down over the diving body of Thompson as the Nelson keeper claimed the ball but the referee waved aside their appeals. Luke Hargreaves saw his 25 yard rising shot knocked away by keeper Tom Bush after 77 minutes but, two minutes later, Nelson got their fourth goal when Sam Heap's low cross from the left was knocked into the Kendals net by Chris Howarth. The move was repeated in the last minute of the game with the same two players combining to add a fifth goal for Nelson. A disapointing afternoon for a depleated Town team , next up Morecambe on Tuesday evening kick off 7:45pm

KENDAL TOWN - 1 Tom Bush: 2 Neil Murphy: 3 Jimmy Williams: 4 Tony Hallam (Captain:) 5 George Melling: 6 Gary Baker: 7 Carl Osman: 8 Lee Mulvaneyl 9 Zach Clarke: 10 Callum Warburton: 11 David Dempsey - Subs :- Gordon Pirie: Craig Hobson: Yousive.

Report by Dave Priestley, Nelson website (edited)