CLAIRE Martin scored her first goal for Kendal on Sunday to keep them close to the top of the Cumbria Women's League table.

Kendal faced Penrith - both teams playing for their place in the top three of the league - and the game started and finished at a fast tempo.

Possession was the key and both teams went out hard. In the first half both teams had several chances at goal, but it was the visitors that went ahead.

Kendal responded straight away, passing and moving the ball well to create several breaks on goal.

The Penrith keeper made several saves but Kendal's Rachel Elleray put the home team on level terms with a dive to fire in following a goal-line scramble.

Kendal came with a new-found determination in the second half, Sarah Bird playing an integral part in feeding the forwards to set up the attacks.

Although Kendal held the upper hand at this stage and had several chances from short corners, the keeper denied them. On defence Kendal remained a solid presence thanks to their precision marking, while keeper Holly Price also had an excellent match. But it was Martin who scored the vital goal to clinch the winning points.

After a super run down the right wing, she beat the keeper with a cleanly-struck shot from the edge of the D to take Kendal to a well-deserved victory.

Claire Howarth and Vicky Jones also had a good game for Kendal.

Kendal play three games over the weekend, including a home fixture to Teeside in the Vase tournament on Sunday.