KENDAL Town were held to a 1-1 draw against Clitheroe at the Pye Motors Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.

Martin Grundy opened the scoring for the hosts after 26 minutes before Kurt Willoughby equalised nine minutes later in Clitheroe's only shot on goal during the first half.

The visitors came on strong in the second half while Kendal had to do more defending before the game ended all square.

Kendal started the game well and were almost in front after five minutes when Matthew Clarke's powerful drive on goal fell into the path of Rob Bowman whose side-footed effort was parried away by Clitheroe keeper Chris Thompson.

The Mintcakes played with plenty of confidence and freedom after Saturday's 3-1 win at Radcliffe, while Clitheroe were unable to get into the game.

Clitheroe's only opportunity of note came after 10 minutes when a corner was parried away by Will Kitchen.

Kendal opened the scoring after an in swinging corner from the right was headed into the net by Grundy. He rose highest before nodding past former Kendal Town keeper Thompson.

The hosts were unlucky not to have scored more goals, with Bowman going close with an effort that flew just wide.

Clitheroe equalised on the 34th minute after a clinical pass by Charlie Russell picked out Willoughby who cut inside and drilled the ball past Kitchen.

Kendal continued to miss plenty of opportunities as Rick Seear headed the ball over while Connor Gaul’s close range attempt on goal was pushed away by the Clitheroe keeper.

Clitheroe made the better start to the second half with Brad Carroll’s long distance effort going wide of the post before Willoughby’s powerful strike on goal clipped the cross bar

The visitors continued to press with Oliver Crankshaw's curling shot sailing wide, while Kendal’s first attempt in the second half fell to Connor Gaul who saw his deflected effort go for a corner.

Clitheroe again went close when Joe Mitchell forced a good save out of Kitchen before Mitchell fired over from a knock down by Sefton Gonzalez.

Bowman created Kendal’s best opportunity in the 77th minute when he saw his shot go just wide of the bottom corner.

However, Clitheroe missed a glorious opportunity in the last minute of the game when Jacob Davies headed the ball off the cross bar from a deep corner into the box by Robbie Bromley as Kendal held on.

Kendal travel to Hyde United on Saturday in the next qualifying round of the FA Cup before travelling to Bamber Bridge in the league on Tuesday night.

Kendal Town line up: 1, Kitchen, 2, Aspin (C) , 3, Thomas, 4, Grundy, 5, Alexander, 6, Wardle, 7, Gaul, 8, Lynch, 9, Seear, 10, Bowman, 11, Clarke.