Ilkeston FC 4
Kendal Town 4
Evo-Stik Premier Division
KENDAL Town surrendered a 4-1 lead with six minutes left as they were forced to settle for a point in Nottinghamshire.
Watched at the New Manor Ground by a crowd of 401, new signing Joe Bunney put Kendal ahead on the half-hour Josh Amis doubled the lead a minute before the break when he was left unmarked at the far post to volley in a cross from the left as Kendal led 2-0 at half time.
Ilkeston responded at the break by making a triple substitution, withdrawing Aaron Hooton, Jordan Smith and James Reid and sending on Gary Ricketts, Daryll Thomas and Jack Watts.
The response was immediate as Jack Eades cashed in on good work by Ricketts and Watts, but Alex Taylor restored Kendal's two-goal lead on 53 minutes for his seventh league goal of the season.
It promised to be crucial at 3-1 when Ilkeston's Thomas failed to convert from close range.
Instead of being back in the game the side bottom of the table before this game fell further behind when Bunney broke the offside trap and stuck it under the keeper as Kendal stretched their lead to 4-1.
But then came the late drama as Ricketts made it 4-2 in the 84th minute before Ryan Wilson's deflected effort ended up in the Kendal net.
And deep into injury time Eades struck with a last-gasp shot to break Kendal hearts and earn an unlikely point for Ilkeston.
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