KENDAL Town's dreams of an FA Cup run this season were left in tatters as they were beaten 5-0 by Bishop Auckland at Parkside Road.

Just over 250 fans were inside the ground to see the Mintcakes who were attempting to string some early season form together through the cup.

However they were resoundly beaten for their counterparts from County Durham.

A total of seven new players were given their competitive debuts by manager Chris Humphrey, who himself was missing from the starting line-up.

Three of last year's squad were also in the starting line-up, which was missing ace Jnai Butterfield-Steeds due to an injury.

Humphrey's side matched the visitors for large parts of the first half, keeping them at bay through the half.

Craig Hutchinson was proving to be the danger man for the side from Durham, and he had the ball in the net early in he first half, but it was ruled out for offside.

The visitors were on top after the chalked off goal, with Hutchinson forcing goalkeeper Luke Camacho into a smart low saw.

However Kendal gradually began to get a foot hold in the game, as Liam Lightfoot forced a good stop from Nicholas Liversedge in the Bishop goal.

A visiting player was upended in the box, and Craig Hutchinson found the back of the net from 12 yards.

Despite a tight scoreline going into the break, things took a turn for the worst in the second period.

Auckland began to get on top early in the second half, with goalkeeper Luke Camacho coming under wave after wave of attacks.

Another goal from the visitors was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper, before Auckland did their noses in front just four minutes before half time.

Referee Ian Gittens awarded a penalty when a foul was ruled on Jamie Davies in the penalty area.

Hutchinson stepped up and his shot just beat Camacho, who went the right way but couldn't get a firm hand on it.

The second half was a struggle as Kendal saw themselves fall two goals behind us six minutes into the second period.

Hutchinson was the first to meet a corner and fire the ball into the net for his and Auckland's second of the game.

Charlie Barnes came close to getting a goal back as he leapt into action and came within inches of a goal for his team when he took a shot at Bishop’s goal, unfortunately the shot went wide.

However in a matter of minutes the game had gotten away from Kendal and they had fallen four goals behind.

Luke Hogan scored a brace, with the first seeing the player cut inside and fire a low shot behind the outstretched arm of Camacho.

This was followed by a calm converted shot for his second goal.

That wasn't to be the end of the scoring though as in injury time Hutchinson burst into the area and found Regan

Nixon who was on hand to covert for the visitors five of the game.

Despite the competitive nature of the first half, the second half proved to be Bishop’s as they stormed across the field at will and overpowered the Kendal defence.

The defeat is a bitter blow to Humphrey's side, with the manager stating that if the game had come maybe four or five games into the season, then it would have been a different story.

He said: "It was not to be really and really I thought that game came just a little but too early for our players, which is no excuse.

"We're a young squad that has come together and we are as good as complete now with the loan signings that we have brought in.

"The players we have brought in have done well and have had time to gel, but as I say, I think if this game came maybe four or five games into the season, then it would have been a little different.

"But I have seen enough through pre-season to have been impressed and to know we have got enough quality in our side, even though we are a young side.

"They are young and will have to learn quickly because it is a tough league with tough games, none more so than this Saturday against Prescot Cables.

"They will have been looking at our last few results and will fancy it, but I'm looking to see how the players react from Saturday's defeat and go again.

"I am going to be back in the fold myself and I'll have the boots on and I'm looking forward to it."