Kendal Town opened their pre-season campaign with a 5-1 defeat to League Two side Carlisle United at The Pye Motors Stadium on Wednesday night.

Carlisle fielded a strong team and made a positive start to proceedings and were in front after just 15 minutes when Jabo Ibehre rose highest to head home a cross into the box by Danny Grainger.

The League Two outfit continued to surge forward, forcing Will Kitchen in the Kendal goal to pull off a good save to deny Reggie Lambe, while Grainger's free kick rattled the cross bar.

The best of the Carlisle opportunities came midway through the first half as Nicky Adams' close range shot on goal was pushed away for a corner by Kitchen.

Kendal battled on as Danny Forbes tame shot was saved by the Carlisle keeper, however on the stroke of half time Kendal were awarded a penalty as Carlisle's trialist goalkeeper brought down Ollie Wood in the penalty box.

Sam Bailey, retained for this season, stepped up and dispatched the ball into the back of the net to level the score

In the second half Carlisle made eleven changes and the refreshed Blues were too strong as they reclaimed the lead two minutes after the restart as Russell Penn's cross into the box was headed home by Patrick Brough.

Carlisle made the game safe in the 60th minute after the referee awarded a penalty, which Jamie Devitt converted.

Kendal showed plenty of spirit, however Carlisle added a fourth through a trialist before Mark Ellis completed the scoring at the back post to round off a comfortable second half.

Manager Dave Foster was glad to see the team back in action, and was pleased with the way they held their own in the first half against professional opposition.

"It's always good to get the first game out the way," he said. "It was particularly nice of Carlisle to bring their first team squad.

"I thought in the first half we were very competitive but these first couple of games are just about trying to asses what you've got.

"But I thought we acquitted ourselves well in the first, it just would've been nice to have a second 11 like Carlisle did."

The break since the end of last season saw the Mintcakes open the vacancy of head coach before Foster was moved up from assistant to the main job. He says it's a role that suits him.

"From my point of view it's early days, but it's a system I'm comfortable with," he added.

"There were a lot of issues with the club last year that needed sorting but there seems to be a clear direction at the moment.

"We've got a good, young group of lads of who will be doing everything to win each game as it comes."

STARTING LINE UPS

Kendal: Will Kitchen, Danny McGahon, Ben Thomas, Dan Forbes, Lewis Plackett, Stuart McDonald, Sam Bailey, Martin Grundy, Ollie Wood, Matt Pooley, Anthony Lynch.

Carlisle: Trialist, David Atkinson, Trialist, Michael Raynes, Rhys Groves, Reggie Lambe, Jason Kennedy, Mike Jones, Shaun Miller, Nicky Adams, Jabo Ibehre.

Kendal Town travel to face either Shildon or Bedlington Terriers in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The tie is to be played on Saturday, August 20, and will see the Mintcakes travel to the North East as they face off against one of The Northern League sides.

The Mintcakes will also travel to play Division North side Burscough in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy, with the tie being played on Saturday, October 8.