Kendal Town 2-2 Northwich Victoria

FORMER Kendal striker Alex Taylor did the damage in front of goal as Northwich twice came from behind as the Dave Foster era started with a point.

Foster and Lee Ashcroft – making his Parkside Road return – once formed a revered strike partnership for the Mintcakes but were in opposite dugouts as the spoils were shared.

After a goalless first-half, Taylor’s goals denied Kendal maximum points after Martyn Coleman, on full debut, and Danny Mitchley both hit the target to give the home side the lead.

Without a win in five league and cup games going into the clash, Kendal have been suffering with injuries of late and Foster was pressed into making more changes from Saturday’s defeat at Padiham.

Colin Watson replaced Ross Lloyd at right-back and Michael Stringfellow made his first appearance since the victory over Farsley in mid-September, while Coleman and Mitchley replaced Zach Clark and Maison McGeechan.

Despite the absence of any clear-cut opportunities, the first-half was an open affair on the whole with both sides enjoying possession in the final third.

Mitchley stung the palms of Northwich keeper Tim Deasy after two minutes while at the other end Joe Garvin played in Danny Wisdom whose shot was touched behind by Phil King.

Midway through the half, Deasy – who was sent off when the sides met earlier in the season – claimed a curling Danny Coid shot before Mitchley came close to opening the scoring moments later.

The former Blackpool frontman produced an excellent touch to take Watson’s crossfield ball beyond Northwich skipper Dale Wright only for his effort to shave the far post.

A long-range Coid shot flashed wide of the target, while another teasing low cross from the lively Garvin narrowly evaded Taylor in the six-yard box.

Four minutes after the re-start Kendal had the lead as Coleman scored his first goal in Town colours, volleying home from within the six-yard box after Darren Green’s inswinging corner fell at his feet.

Northwich were lively in the final third and missed a guilt-edged opportunity to equalise shortly after the hour-mark as Garvin picked out Michael Clark who side-footed over with the goal gaping.

And shortly afterwards, another dangerous Garvin cross from the left was headed straight at King by Taylor, while Coid forced Deasy into a smart low save as play switched to the opposite end.

The away side drew level with quarter of an hour remaining, Taylor sliding the ball past King after pacey substitute Danny Boyle made progress down the right flank.

Parity was only short-lived as Kendal regained the lead four minutes later through Mitchley, who took his tally for the season to 12 with another calm finish.

Mike Rushton’s intelligent pass released McGeechan down the right-side of the area, retrieving possession after initially overrunning the ball, with the rebound falling to Mitchley who rounded Deasy.

But once again Northwich came storming back, Garvin playing in Taylor who produced an exquisite left-footed finish to find the top corner via the underside of the crossbar.

Late on, Jack Smith defended well on two separate occasions to repel Northwich attacks as Kendal secured their second consecutive home draw in the league.

Kendal Town: Phil King, Colin Watson, Jack Smith, Mike Rushton, Martin Grundy, Michael Stringfellow, Rob Wilson, Danny Coid (c) (Danny McGahon 81), Danny Mitchley, Martyn Coleman (Maison McGeechan 73), Darren Green. Subs not used: Zach Clark, Matthew Knipe, Adam Freeland

Northwich Victoria: Tim Deasy, Chris Smalley (Kyle Armstrong 89), Danny Wisdom, Callum Henry, Michael Thomas, Dale Wright (c), Brian Summerskill, Michael Clark (Danny Boyle 73), Gary Burnett, Alex Taylor, Joe Garvin (Chris Bailey 90). Subs not used: Simon Nangle, Abubakar Sheego