Kendal Town 0

Lancaster City 0

MANAGER Michael Stringfellow played a full 90 minutes as Kendal Town battled to a goalless draw for a share of the spoils in Easter Monday's clash with local rivals Lancaster City.

The Dolly Blues made the short trip up the M6 with recent good form behind them - winning four of their last seven games.

They were also in the mood for revenge following the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Kendal on Boxing Day, while the Mintcakes went into the match without three points since their memorable 4-2 over Darlington in late February.

With nothing left to play for bar league position and pride for both sides, clear-cut chances were few and far between in a scrappy encounter watched by a healthy crowd of 319.

Danny Eccles, the club's seventh goalkeeper this season, maintained his place in the side that lost to Brighouse Town 3-1 on Saturday and was largely a spectator throughout the afternoon as Lancaster lacked the killer touch in the final third.

The first chance arrived on the 12 minute mark when former Morecambe midfielder Garry Hunter sent a 25 yard free kick sailing over Eccles' bar.

Lancaster's early dominance continued when full-back Sam Bayley skipped past two challenges but his final ball was lacking and smothered by Eccles.

A string of one-twos in the centre of the park presented Hunter with another chance but his 30 yard free-kick landed harmlessly into the arms of Eccles, who saved from Josh Draycott moments later.

For all of Lancaster's attacking endeavour, it was Kendal who perhaps had the best chance of the first half on 38 minutes.

A long free kick was flicked on by Craig Carney and a touch of indecisiveness in Lancaster back four allowed Town top-scored Jordan Connerton to nip in and get a toe on the ball but the effort was saved by Mike Hale's feet.

Referee Natalie Walker then turned down a penalty appeal when it appeared Carney's low drive was handled in the box before she waved away Lancaster's protestations when Matty Poole found himself on the ground in Kendal's penalty box under pressure from skipper Ricky Mercer.

Stringfellow sent on youngster George Mason at the break in place of Tommy Watson in an attempt to add some more attacking prowess to the Kendal frontline.

And the Mintcakes almost broke the deadlock just five minutes later when Stringfellow fed Aaron Helliwell whose hooked cross in turn found Dave Swarbrick but he rushed his effort and skewed over the bar.

Another Kendal chance arrived ten minutes later when Connerton played in Mason whose first time right-footed drive was saved brilliantly low down by Hale.

Lancaster broke from the resulting corner but Ryan Winder was denied by an equally good save from Eccles.

Helliwell was then forced to scoop the ball clear off his own line before Rory Winters sent a late header over as hopes of either side snatching the three points were fading.

Connerton had the final chance of the afternoon but he sent his volley wide in the first minute of stoppage time.