‘ROBBED’ was the word Kendal Town manager Lee Ashcroft used after a controversial injury time equaliser meant it was honours even at Parkside Road.

With the match at 2-2 and just two minutes left on the clock, Kendal thought they had gained all three points with a wonderful 25-yard strike from ex-Marine winger Kevin Leadbetter.

But deep into injury time, Kendal keeper Craig Dootson found the ball at his feet, and asked the linesman on three occasions whether he could pick the ball up.

When he was given no response, Dootson picked the ball up, and referee Paul Kettlewell gave a free kick inside the box for Marine.

The ball was sidefooted to Neil Harvey, who had caused Kendal’s defence problems all night long, and he smashed the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the away side’s bench.

It was a harsh way to end the match but Kendal lost their discipline after the goal, with Dootson sent off for dissent. Kieran Walmsley was also shown a straight red after the final whistle for his strong remonstrations to the referee.

In a closely fought contest, it was Marine who drew first blood. Stephen Johnson cut in from the right for the away side and found Louis Barnes. The Marine winger shot straight at Dootson but the ball went through him and Marine led 1-0.

On 25 minutes though, Kendal were level after a 30-yard thunderbolt from debutant Neil Wainwright, who had a peerless performance at left back.

He picked the ball up on the halfway line, and worked his way into the Marine half before unleashing an effort which left keeper and skipper Ryan McMahon with no chance.

Two minutes later, Kendal took the lead. Leadbetter, who had caused real problems for Marine left back Ian Latham all game, struck a stinging effort from outside the box which was parried by McMahon. Mark Jackson was the first to react and stuck the ball in the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The second half saw Marine take the game to Kendal a bit more, but it was the introduction of Aaron Rey which seemed to turn the game for the visitors. Five minutes after coming on, Rey ran at Steve Swinglehurst, on loan from Carlisle for a month, who tried to force the substitute out wide. Rey took a shot on the edge of the box, and Dootson would have been disappointed to have let the ball slip through his hands again to make the score 2-2.

Both sides pressed for a winner, with Danny Williams firstly hitting the outside of the Marine post after a neat solo run.

Leadbetter’s wonder goal put the Black and Whites back in front, before Williams had another opportunity to kill the game off but his header from inside the six yard box hit the bar.

Kendal looked on course for a deserved three points until the madness ensued in injury time.

HOW THEY RATED: C Dootson 4, K Walmsley 6, N Wainwright 8, S Swinglehurst 7, M Joseph 7, C Donnelly 7, K Leadbetter 8 (rep T Newton 90min), M Jackson 7 (rep M Peers 78min), W Curtis 7 (rep G McKevatt 90min), A Dunn, D Williams.

Subs: T Kilifin, J Tucker STAR MAN: Neil Wainwright – capped a solid debut with a wonderful long-range strike and caused problems going forward down the Kendal left flank.

Att: 197