KENDAL Town's opening game of pre-season ended with a high-scoring defeat to newly-promoted Conference outfit Barrow AFC at the Lancaster and Morecambe College Stadium on Saturday.

Fans got their first chance to catch a glimpse of some of Michael Stringfellow's new recruits while Barrow manager Darren Edmondson fielded almost two completely different teams in both halves as the Bluebirds prepare for a return to the top-level of non-league football.

Kendal's new experienced centre-half Rob Williams opened the scoring but goals from Elliot Newby, Alex Ray-Harvey and Neil Ashton gave the visitors a half-time lead.

Last season's top goalscorer Jordan Connerton opened up his account for this season early in the second half before David Mellor gave Barrow a two goal advantage again.

Zach Clarke then brought Kendal close to levelling before striker Lewis Guy's penalty, which he won after being tugged back by Williams, ended the afternoon's goalscoring.

The first chance of the game came after 12 minutes when Barrow danger man Andy Cook smacked a volley off the foot of the post.

Referee Paul Marsden waived away two penalty claims as Kendal searched for the first goal of the game.

The first came when a deflected ball looped up in the box. A Barrow trialist appeared to bundle over Connerton but despite the claims Marsden looked away.

Two minutes later and Connerton was again on the floor after appearing to be brought down by Joel Dixon in the Barrow net.

A corner was given instead and from that Kendal found the back of the net. Henry's high cross was met by Williams who headed down into the floor. It looked as if it was an easy gather for Dixon but he inexplicably left the ball and it trickled into the bottom corner.

Barrow were enjoying much of the possession and found an equaliser when Newby's stunning 20 yard effort flew past Kendal stopper Ric Whiteside.

Ray-Harvey then latched onto a deft Newby through ball and rounded Whiteside to slot into an empty net and full-back Neil Ashton took advantage of a mistake from the goalkeeper to add a third for Barrow.

Barrow made ten changes at the break while Colin Watson and Ben Thomas later replaced Aaron Helliwell and Tommy Watson in the Kendal line-up.

The wait for another goal only lasted eight minutes when Connerton lashed in a 20 yard effort.

Two minutes later and Whiteside was picking the ball out of his net again after Mellor pounced on a pull-back from George Bowerham to tuck home.

Clarke then outpaced Andy McWilliams off a break from a Barrow corner and calmly slotted under the advancing keeper.

But the scoring did not finish there as Barrow scored their fifth of the game on 75 minutes.

Guy, formerly of Carlisle, was tugged back by Williams in the penalty box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Guy stepped up to smash it low past Kendal substitute goalkeeper Will Kitchen, who guessed the right way but was beaten by the power and accuracy of the strike.

Kendal entertain Morecambe on Tuesday night in the second of their pre-season fixtures.