KENDAL Town went top of the table with an exhilarating 4-1 victory over Marine at Parkside on Saturday and dead-ball specialist Keiran Walmsley was the man of the moment.

Walmsley struck two perfectly-crafted free kicks and supplied a gem of a crossfield ball for another top-drawer strike as Town simply looked a cut above the visitors.

After a scrappy opening by both sides, Town went ahead after 20 minutes with a stunning three-man move.

Walmsley's arcing bisecting pass from the right found Craig Hobson and his first-time cushion sidefooted pass sent the ball rolling into Beattie's path.

He strolled on for a couple of strides before stroking a measured shot beyond keeper Sean Lake into the corner.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 with Michael Cole breaking unchecked down the right and putting in a teasing cross.

Keeper Lake looked to have it covered, but failed to punch the ball very well and it connected with Hobson's head and dropped towards goal. A defender got back to hack the ball away, but the referee's assistant signalled it had crossed the line.

Kendal let their focus slip a little and and Marine had shown they were adept at turning players in the opposition box.

A missed clearance in the 29th minute let in Jamie Rainford who was left clear to steer his effort past keeper David Newnes.

However, Town restored their two-goal advantage after 36 minutes, trhis time when Hobson was fouled on the edge of the box.

Beattie tapped the ball to Walmsley, who rifled a piledriving free kick through the wall into the top left hand corner of the net.

By contrast, Marine's finishing was poor and Rainford blazed a good chance over before the break.

Only one goal came in the second half after that feast and it came from Walmsley when subsitute Carl Osman had been fouled in a central position on the edge of the Marine box.

This time Walmsley adopted a different approach for the 71st-minute chance and he curled it over the wall to rebound off the post and past the helpless Lake.

Kendal skilfully closed up the game to stay unbeaten with three wins and two draws and this success lifted them into top spot ahead of a Bank Holiday Monday trip to Whitby.