KENDAL Town bowed out of the Integro League Cup in the first round as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Clitheroe at The Pye Motors Stadium on Tuesday.

Dimitri Tuanzebe's early header and a Bradley Carroll penalty just before half time proved to be enough.

Kendal Town manager David Foster made a few changes as Callum Fawcett, Ben Thomas, Callum Hoctor and Dan Towers all started, while Sam Bailey, Matt Dudley, Martin Grundy and Danny McGahon were on the bench. Oliver Wood was also missing from the side, as the team had one eye on Saturday’s crunch match at Brighouse Town.

Clitheroe made the better start and were ahead after just three minutes when a ball into the box was headed home by the powerful Tuanzebe. He rose highest to head the ball home past Will Kitchen in the Kendal goal.

The visitors continued to dominate possession as Kendal struggled to get a foothold in the game, however as the half wore on, Kendal unleashed their first shot on goal as Hoctor's curled attempt went wide before Charlie Bailey saw his powerful effort saved by Clitheroe keeper Christian Paulat-Brigg.

Clitheroe saw out the Kendal pressure and created further opportunities as Tuanzebe fired the ball into the side netting, while Carroll's close-range effort was palmed away for a corner by Kitchen.

The visitors missed another good a chance when Kurt Willoughby’s effort was forced away by Kitchen, after Willoughby found himself one on one with the Kendal shot stopper.

Clitheroe made it 2-0 just before the break from the penalty spot after Tuanzebe was upended in the box by Kitchen.

Club captain Carroll fired the penalty into the bottom left hand corner of the net as the visitors had a healthy advantage going into half time.

At the start of the second half Clitheroe almost made it 3-0 when Tuanazebe went close with a powerful header which was well met by Kitchen, while the Kendal shot stopper pushed away a good corner in from the left.

Kendal almost got back into the game when Hoctor blasted the ball over the bar from close range, while Charlie Bailey's half chance was well stopped by the visiting keeper.

Clitheroe though were comfortable as they retained possession, while the ever-threatening Tuanzebe's strength and paced caused endless problems for the Mintcakes' defence.

Kendal kept going, and created opportunities of their own through Hoctor whose ball in from the left shaved the cross bar, before Bailey side footed the ball wide of the post.

There was one moment of controversy after Clitheroe's Paulat-Brigg pushed down a Kendal player from just outside the penalty box. However the referee let play go on without even awarding a foul.

But Clitheroe saw the closing stages out as Kendal turn their attentions to the crucial game at Brighouse Town on Saturday.