KENDAL Men fought out a thrilling 4-3 defeat with Rochdale in NW Division 5 North.

Rochdale comfortably won the earlier meeting between the sides, but Kendal have progressed since then with younger players blending into the squad.

After non-stop end-to-end play Rochdale’s Barry Cumbley’s reverse-stick shot opened the scoring and he struck again from a penalty corner to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Kendal skipper Ewan Galloway burst into the Rochdale D to pull a goal back only for Gumbley to complete his hat-trick and restore the two-goal cushion.

Rochdale went 4-1 ahead after good work ended with Josh Robinson cleverly lifting the ball over the diving keeper.

Kendal spirits remained high and there was a strong feeling goals would come.

Phil Conlin’s clearance set up a lightning striker involving Galloway and Liam Derome, who carved a way through midfield before Derome rounded the keeper and fired into the unguarded net.

Ten minutes remained and Kendal threw everything forward and were rewarded with another Galloway goal.

Four more minutes of high-speed hockey followed but Kendal, for whom Chris Woodman was man of the match, could not get on to level terms and the three points went to Rochdale in a 4-3 result.