KENDAL Town started 2017 with an agonising 3-2 defeat at Colne with a last-minute winner completing a shock comeback for the hosts.

A Sam Bailey brace, including one from the spot, had given the Mintcakes a two-goal lead at the break. But Colne hit back through Mark Ayres, former Town striker Sefton Gonzales, and substitute Connor Gaul to snatch the unlikeliest of victories.

With the game coming only a couple of days after the Ramsbottom fixture, injuries and the exit of Paul Dugdale to Glossop North End meant manager David Foster was forced into a few changes with Mohamed El-Harrati, Charlie Bailey and Matt Poole coming back into the starting line up.

Colne, starting with an all former-Kendal attacking force of Gonzales and Ollie Wood, could have taken an early lead when Jack Lynch's close-range effort was cleared off the line.

But it was Kendal who struck first when the Reds pressed again on 12 minutes. Possession was overturned and Sam Bailey raced clear on the breakaway to finish low into the bottom corner.

Danny Forbes went close to doubling the lead two minutes later but his shot was just too high, while Will Kitchen showed good reactions in the Kendal goal to turn Ric Seear's strike behind for a corner.

On the stroke of half time Kendal did extend their lead when the Reds' defence was caught out by a quickly-taken free kick and Matt Dudley was brought down in the area by keeper Tony Aghayere. Bailey fired home the resulting penalty to put the Mintcakes in a commanding position at the break.

Dudley had the chance to put the game to bed five minutes after the interval but Aghayere atoned for his earlier mistaking by saving with his feet from point-blank range.

With an hour played the comeback was on when Kitchen was penalised for fouling ex-teammate Wood in the area and Ayres stepped forward to reduce the deficit from 12 yards.

Colne quickly drew level on 66 minutes as Lynch carried the ball out from the back and freed Gonzales away down the left. He was able to cut inside before smashing a low diagonal shot across Kitchen and into the net to make it 2-2.

Aghayere was again called into action as the Mintcakes looked to hit back through Charlie Bailey, but again the keeper's feet were in the way to prevent Kendal regaining the lead.

As Colne piled on the pressure Kitchen made a series of great saves to keep out shots by Lee Pugh and Wood and it seemed that Kendal would hold on for a point. But in the last minute of the game, Pugh’s cross was headed away from the goalmouth only for Gaul to drive an unstoppable shot into the net from outside the area to give Colne a dramatic win.

Back-to-back defeats see Kendal slip to 12th in the Evo-Stik First Division North, albeit with games in hand over their nearest challengers. Next up for Kendal is a game against Trafford at the Pye Motors Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.