Ten man Kendal Town crashed to an agonising 1-0 defeat to City of Liverpool in an entertaining game at The St & B Accountants Stadium.

Jack Hazlehurst’s swinging free kick after 67 minutes proved to be the difference, while Kieran Maguire was sent off for a second bookable offence in a game where Kendal were ultimately punished for missed opportunities in front of goal, on an otherwise frustrating afternoon watched by a big crowd of 207.

Kendal started the game well and should have been 1-0 up after 6 minutes when Emil Jaaskelainen, who found time and space in the penalty area, fired his effort wide from close range.

City of Liverpool defended well and looked dangerous on the counter attack, however, Kendal going forward were also a threat and created the clearer cut opportunities in front of goal.

Kendal continued to probe with Kieran Maguire forcing a stunning one handed save out of Owen Wheeler after the former Workington Reds player unleashed an unstoppable strike from distance while Michael Samson saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by one of the City of Liverpool defenders.

City of Liverpool began to create opportunities of their own after Anthony Brown tested Morgan Bacon in the Kendal goal, while both Tom Peterson and James McCarten also went close with McCarten heading his effort over the bar from close range.

With 23 minutes left on the clock, everything began to go wrong for Kendal after Kieran Maguire was sent off for fouling one of The City of Liverpool players.

The sending off which resulted in a free kick on the left hand side proved to be critical when Jack Hazlehursts inswinging delivery nestled into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Hazlehursts delivery which was assisted into the net by the wind went past Bacon in the Kendal goal as City of Liverpool went 1-0 up.

Kendal battled and tried to get the ball forward and cause problems but the visitors saw out 6 minutes of injury time to secure the win.

Kendal travel to play bottom side Pickering Town on Saturday in a crunch relegation game. Kendal are currently five points clear from the final relegation place.