Grantham Town 3

Kendal Town 4

Evo-Stik Premier Division

IT WAS a case of mission accomplished for Kendal Town as they moved out of the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to victory over Grantham Town in a seven-goal thriller.

Kendal started on the back foot in Lincolnshire when Grantham took the lead just one minute into the game. Sam MacVicar was put through on goal by Danny Elliot and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

But in an action-packed start to the game, the Black and Whites were on level terms with just three minutes gone when Maison McGeechan was taken down in the box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and McGeechan stepped up to put away the spot kick.

A Kallum Smith goal put the home side back in front but Kendal levelled once again on 21 minutes. A curled Mike Rushton effort from the left side of goal was parried into the path of Zach Clark, who was able to finish comfortably.

Kendal then took the lead just a minute later when Callum Hoctor floated in a corner to the unmarked McGeechan, who headed into the back of the empty net.

Grantham nearly levelled on 26 minutes when a MacVicar effort was tipped over by debutant goalkeeper Damian Clifton.

But Kendal made it 4-2 before half time when Grantham’s Deon Meikle had a mix-up with keeper James Martin, and he chested the ball into the path of Clark, who slotted home to cap a memorable first half containing six goals.

Kendal nearly sealed the victory just moments later when Rushton was put through on goal but Martin did well to get down low to the ball.

The second half was a different story as the game calmed down.

Grantham pulled a goal back on 61 minutes when substitute Jamie McGhee wound his way past Dean Overson and finished in the bottom corner with Clifton having no chance of thwarting the effort.

Hoctor blazed the ball over the bar on 83 minutes after good work by Rushton and Clark in an attempt that would have killed the game off.

Kendal had a tense moment in the dying seconds as James Short cleared the ball off the line and Clifton make a double save as Grantham huffed and puffed to gain an all-important equaliser.

But the away team held on for their second successive victory that lifts them above Stocksbridge Park Steels and out of the relegation zone of the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Grantham Town

James Martin, Alistair Asher, Deon Meikle, Tommy Hannigan, Adie Hawes, Danny Elliot (Rhys Lewis 66), Nathan Watson, Emeka Nwadike (C), Karl Demidh (Jamie McGhee 52), Sam MacVicar, Kallum Smith

Subs Not Used: Alex Troke, Robbie Maddox

Kendal Town

Damian Clifton, Dean Overson, James Short, Jack Cook, Kevin Brown (C), Adam Freeland, Martin Grundy, Zach Clark, Mike Rushton, Maison McGeechan, Callum Hoctor

Substitutes: Tom Williams for McGeechan (59), Danny Maghan for Hoctor (73)

Subs Not Used: Liam Shields, Aaron Helliwell, David Foster

Attendance: 187