KENDAL Town started 2018 with a defeat at high-flying Clitheroe despite a strong first half performance in Lancashire.

Clitheroe had been one of the Evo-Stik North Division's form teams towards the end of 2017 before losing 4-1 at Scarborough Athletic before the New Year.

Unfortunately for the Mintcakes, they turned up at Shawbridge to be on the wrong end of a Clitheroe response to their previous defeat as the home side recorded their eighth win in their last nine outings.

Kendal started the game brightly and had chances of their own to open the scoring.

The first major opportunity fell to Conor Gaul, but he was unable to convert from close range.

Ric Seear also went close during a cold and wet first half which saw the Mintcakes perform well without being able to find a route to goal.

After the break, first-choice goalkeeper Will Kitchen made his return to the pitch following a lengthy lay off with an ankle injury. He came on as a second half substitute for on-loan Chorley keeper Sam Ashton, who himself had picked up an injury.

With a resurgent home side gaining momentum after half time, Kitchen was twice called into action to keep Kendal in the match, brilliantly keeping his clean sheet in tact.

But Clitheroe did manage to open the scoring just after the hour mark to break the Mintcakes' resilience as Alex Newby unleashed a fierce shot on goal past Kitchen to break the deadlock.

Having made the breakthrough, Clitheroe went on to extend their lead in the 74th minute when Kurt Willoughby fired across goal and into the bottom corner.

Kendal continued to look for a route back into the contest but with two minutes of injury time played, Clitheroe sealed the points as Newby got his second of the afternoon.

Kendal Town line-up: 1, Sam Ashton, 2, Mike Aspin, 3, Ben Thomas, 4, Daniel Penswick, 5, Stuart McDonald (C), 6, Jacob Davis, 7, Robert Bowman, 8, Daniel McGahon, 9, Rick Seear, 10, Oliver Wood, 11, Connor Gaul.

Substitutes: 12, Paul Alexander, 13, Will Kitchen, 14, Matthew Clarke, 15, Anthony Lynch