TWO forwards have departed Kendal Town Football Club in the past week, while a young goalkeeper has been brought in on loan.

Striker Oliver Wood only returned to Parkside Road in December, but he is already on the move again having signed with Padiham FC.

Kendal Town boss David Foster, however, said there had been no official approach from Padiham, and the first he heard about the move was from a text from Wood himself.

Wood joins the North West Counties Premier Division side just over a month after rejoining Kendal having left for Colne during last season. At the end of the campaign, he moved on to Lancaster City, who had just secured promotion to Evo-Stik Premier Division.

A lack of opportunities at Giant Axe Stadium saw him reunited with Foster at Kendal.

Connor Gaul, a summer arrival from Colne, also departs the ST&B Accountants Stadium after just half a season at Kendal.

The Mintcakes confirmed that the tricky forward had joined FC Bruno's Magpies in the Gibraltar 2nd Division.

"It's for personal reasons," said Foster. "He wants to go and play abroad and this opportunity has risen for him.

"He's been good for us and we wish him well."

In addition to the two attacking-minded players, long-serving defender Mike Aspin has also left Kendal Town. He has left to join Northwich Victoria.

One player coming into the club, however, is young goalkeeper Matthew Johnson. He joins the Mintcakes on a loan deal from Premier League side Everton.

He previously played in the division on a loan switch to Radcliffe Borough, but his stay there was cut short when he suffered a horrendous leg break in a match against Colne which had to be abandoned because of the delay.

He joins Kendal to provide cover for established first team goalkeeper Will Kitchen, who continues to struggle with a long-term ankle injury.

The arrival of a goalkeeper does little to offset the loss of two of Kendal's attacking options, a problem not lost on Foster who said new recruits were being sought.

"We are looking around at the moment and we've got some conversations happening," confirmed Foster. "By the time we get to the weekend I would hope to have two or three through the door."

Kendal face a tricky double-header of fixtures with a trip to Colwyn Bay on Saturday followed by the visit of Hyde United on Tuesday evening. With last weekend's game against Colne being postponed, it will be their first match since the 7-0 drubbing at Scarborough Athletic.

"We've got nothing to lose," said Foster. "What we need is a good response from the disappointment at Scarborough. I'm sure there will be a positive response and there is no panic in the camp.

"We need to get our heads down, work hard and stick to the plan. I'm confident if we do that things will start to turn around."