KENDAL Town suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first of two back-to-back away games played either side of New Year's Day.

On Friday they travelled to Ramsbottom United hoping to build on Boxing Day's narrow victory over Lancaster City, but a first-half effort from the hosts' Damien Green secured the points for the Manchester outfit.

The Mintcakes had dominated much of the opening exchanges with captain-for-the-day Martin Grundy pulling the strings at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.

Grundy himself was the first to go close for either side but he could only fire wide, before Ramsbottom goalkeeper Martin Fearon reacted well to smother at the feet of the on-rushing Kendal forward Matt Dudley.

Grundy again was presented with a chance to open the scoring when he dispossessed Ramsbottom's Grant Spencer only to see his effort sail over the crossbar.

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Kendal were left to rue their missed openings when Ramsbottom took the lead after 32 minutes. Fearon kicked long all the way to Kendal's Will Kitchen. Kitchen could only punch the ball straight to Green who, from 25 yards out, drove low into the empty net.

Another chance came and went for Grundy with the half running out with Kendal unfortunate to find themselves trailing.

The contest to appeared to swing back Kendal's way just three minutes after the restart when Ramsbottom were reduced to 10 men. A linesman flagged an off-the-ball incident and after discussion with the referee, Ryan Salmon was given his marching orders.

However, with bewilderment on the terraces as to the cause of Salmon's dismissal, the home side were galvanised and soon had the ball in the net again.

A stray header in the Kendal defence presented Gareth Seddon with the chance to nod home from six yards out, but the linesman was again flagging – this time for offside to the outrage of Ramsbottom.

The Mintcakes were limited to shots from distance as their resilient hosts stood firm throughout seven minutes of injury time to claim victory and ensure Kendal's 2016 ended in defeat.