A SINGLE goal was enough to sink Kendal on a wet and windy day at the Pye Motors Stadium.

Miserable conditions meant the referee had to conduct two pitch inspections before kick off, but it will be Droylsden who are happier that the surface was declared playable.

A 55th minute goal from Shaquille Antoine-Clarke condemned Kendal to defeat in a closely-fought contest on Saturday, April 2.

It was the visitors who looked the more incisive and quicker of the two sides and they almost grabbed the lead inside the first five minutes when skipper Domaine Rouse flashed an effort across goal.

But Kendal responded as Liam Breslin powered his way through the Bloods defence, only to see his effort saved by the legs of goalkeeper Lewis Fielding.

As the half progressed, both sides continued to create openings as a combined move on the right hand side by Droylsden's Billy Cragg and Antoine-Clarke create an opening for Rouse.

Rouse then delivered a pin point pass back to Cregg, but Chris Thompson in the Kendal goal was too good to be beaten from there.

Kendal were competing well and caused trouble for the visitors as Danny Forbes saw his attempt on goal pushed away by the keeper before Droylsden's Danny Hewitt cleared the ball to prevent Kendal from scoring the opening goal of the game.

Cregg then had a glorious opportunity but headed the ball wide of the post before Rouse forced Thompson into another good save.

Matt Burke's free kick caused trouble for the hosts while a double save by Luke Fielding prevented Liam Breslin from scoring for the Mintcakes in what was turning into an exciting display.

As the half drew to a close Thompson brilliantly denied Cregg and Rouse with two spectacular saves.

In the second half, Kendal's Aaron Helliwell looked to have secured the lead for The Mintcakes with a well-placed free kick, but Fielding in the Droylsden goal just managed to keep it out.

However, on 55 minutes it was Droylsden who opened the scoring when Danny Byrnes and Cregg found space in the box for Antoine-Clark who fired the ball home into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Droylsden continued to grow in strength, with Cregg forcing Thompson into yet another good save.

The Bloods looked comfortable and defended well in the second half as Kendal couldn’t get going again after conceding.

A gulf in class opened-up and Droylsden set about controlling the remainder of the match.

However, there was one chance for Kendal to snatch something from the game when, in injury time, Danny Forbes had a glorious chance to earn his side a draw.

He had a free header on goal in the dying embers but his effort whistled past the post.

It will be a disappointing result for Kendal, who were hoping to go on a run of four games without a defeat.