Kendal Town were knocked out at the first qualifying round stage of The FA Trophy after being defeated 4-2 by Atherton Collieries at The Pye Motors Stadium.

Mike Aspin opened the scoring for Kendal after six minutes, but Atherton battled back and were soon 2-1 up after goals by Ryan Salmon and Chris Lynch.

Kendal equalised on the stroke of half time when former Morecambe under 18 player Paul Dawson scored from 25 yards.

However, Atherton capitalised on a poor second half by the Mintcakes through goals from second half substitute Jordan Cover and Ashley Wood.

Kendal made an imposing start and were 1-0 up Aspin swept home the rebound from Connor Gaul’s initial attempt.

Gaul caused Atherton a lot of problems in the opening stages of the match, and his shot deflected away for a corner before the former Colne player saw his inswinging cross drop wide of the right hand post.

Atherton equalised against the run of play after fifteen minutes when a cross in from the right by Darryl Mason was powerfully headed home by Salmon.

The goal breathed fresh life into the visitors who began to force Kendal back, while Salmon's pace down the right hand side caused problems for the Kendal defence.

Atherton’s momentum paid off and after 26 minutes they took the lead when a free kick into the penalty area was headed into the net by centre back Lynch.

Kendal almost equalised with four minutes of the half remaining, but Ben Thomas saw his strike on goal smash against the underside of the crossbar.

But Kendal did score just before the break when Dawson curled an unstoppable strike into the top corner as both sides were all square at the break.

Gaul caused further problems for the visitors at the start of the second half and he saw his effort on goal deflect for a corner, while Kendal looked sharp in possession for the first few minutes of the half.

However, as the half progressed Kendal stopped passing the ball, while their intensity level dropped, as Atherton gained control of the second half.

The visitors regained the lead after 74 minutes when Kendal’s half clearance from a corner fell to the feet of Josh Messer who returned the ball into the penalty area for Cover to flick the ball over Kitchen in the Kendal goal.

They made the game safe two minutes later when Cover caught Kendal on the counter attack before seeing his effort on goal rebound off Kitchen into the feet of Wood, who scored from close range as Atherton sealed their place into the next round.

Kendal Town Line Up: Will Kitchen, Mike Aspin, Ben Thomas, Paul Dawson, Paul Alexander, Josh Wardle (Jacob Davis, 84), Stuart McDonald (C), Anthony Lynch (Danny McGahon, 64), Rick Seear (Matt Clarke, 71), Charlie Bowman, Connor Gaul.

Substitutes (not used); Danny Penswick, Max Rothwell