Kendal Town 3-2 Skelmersdale United

KENDAL Town collapsed to their fourth straight defeat as Scott Bakkor hit a hat-trick to complete a stunning turnaround for Skelmersdale United on Tuesday night at The ST & B Accountants Stadium.

The Mintcakes were 2-0 up at the break after goals by Charlie Bowman and Gareth Arnison but conceded three goals in the last ten minutes of the second half - including two penalties - to slump to a loss which sees them remain in seventeenth place, nine points off relegation.

Kendal made a relatively slow start while Skelmersdale played with confidence following their 2-2 draw at Trafford on Saturday.

However Kendal soon found their rhythm and began to cause problems for the visitor's defence as Steve Yawson forced a good save out of Skelmersdale shot stopper Lee Callum Roberts.

Kendal opened the scoring on the 13th minute when Bowman capitalised on a mistake by the keeper before the talisman scored from close range.

Former Lancaster City player Gavin Clark looked good on the ball, while Arnison showed composure and created problems for the Skelmersdale United centre halves.

Kendal made it 2-0 12 minutes before half time after a clinical attack saw Arnison place the ball into the net. Arnison picked up a good ball by Yawson before the former FC United striker showed plenty of composure in the box to finish from close range.

Skelmersdale's only opportunity came on the stroke of half time when Jordan Darr was denied by Matthew Johnson in the Kendal goal who cleared the ball away from danger.

Both sides battled it out in midfield at the start of the second half while Johnson in the Kendal goal made some easy saves to deny James Barrigan. Kendal’s main threat came through Yawson whose pace caused problems for the visitors.

Then came the collapse.e.

Skelmersdale pulled a goal back after 80 minutes when referee Michael Ainsworth pointed to the penalty spot after Danny McGahon felled Tunde Owalbi in the box. Bakkor stepped up to drill the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The visitors were awarded another penalty two minutes later after Stuart McDonald felled Owalbi. Bakkor calmly slotted the ball past Johnson again.

However worse was to follow for Kendal after Bakkor edged the visitors in front after 88 minutes when he found time and space in the penalty area before drilling the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Kendal were denied a penalty kick in injury time after Yawson's shirt was pulled in the box, however referee Ainsworth waved the appeals away as the visitors held on to secure the win.

Kendal host Ossett Town on Saturday.