KENDAL Hockey Club slipped to a narrow 3-2 home defeat to Bury at the weekend with the winning goal coming just three minutes from full time.

Kendal started brightly and pressed the visitors back into their defensive third of the pitch. Holding the ball well and building play with confidence the home team did everything but score.

The Bury keeper was in top form and made several quality saves to deny the Kendal front line. Bury began to earn themselves some possession of the ball and playing into the Kendal D at pace they broke the deadlock with a fortunate deflection.

Five minutes later another deflected ball looped over the Kendal defence and dropped to the thankful Bury striker who was able to convert.

Just before half time Ayrton Boyd timed his run to perfection to arrive at the Bury goal to volley the ball home for Kendal and pull a goal back.

The second half was again controlled for the most part by Kendal but the Bury keeper kept up his solid performance and saved shots from Jack Kerr and Steve Barclay.

Kendal earned a penalty corner and a well-worked routine ended with man-of-the-match Chris Woodman slamming the ball home to bring the score level.

Kendal pushed for the winner, but just could not convert again. A breakaway by Bury in the dying moments ended with yet another deflected goal. A disappointing end to the game for a much improved, if unlucky Kendal side.