Kendal Town scored their first NW Counties League win of the season last night to move off the bottom of the table.
The Mintcakes, who had crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday, bounced back well and were successful at the fourth attempt when they won 4-2 at Burscough.
In most of their games so far, including that 5-2 FA Cup defeat at Bishop Auckland, Kendal have played some good football but have not been clinical enough in their finishing.
This was different, although they did have to rely on goalkeeper Ryan Hogarth for a number of important saves.
Hogarth was in action after only three minutes to make an important block and soon afterwards he did well to smother the ball after a hectic scramble in the six yard box.
It was a powerful start from Burscough and Kendal got lucky when Bailey Backhouse in trying to cut out a cross diverted the ball against a post and behind for a corner.
On 17 minutes it was Hogarth again with a fine save to turn a shot onto the bar and from the corner the ball was cleared off the line.
So it was somewhat against the run of play when Kendal went ahead on 20 minutes. Steve Yawson was brought down by a clumsy challenge in the area and Rob Wilson fired home from the spot.
That lifted the visitors and after Yawson had a shot saved by Burscough keeper Jack Cookson, who then did well to turn away a well struck free-kick from Joe Dickson.
Good morning Mint Cakes ????
— Kendal Town FC (@kendaltownfc) August 25, 2022
Still smiling after last night's 4-2 win?
Start your day right by watching Rob Wilson's precision penalty to open the scoring ????#upthemintcakes pic.twitter.com/J1jlDd8lnJ
Kendal had momentum now and on 40 minutes they doubled their lead. Yawson played the ball through for Tom Kilifin to go round the keeper and score.
Brandon Croskell-Robinson almost made it 3-0 soon after the re-start but Cookson made a good save from a one-on-one.
Burscough reduced the arrears on 49 minutes when Dominic Ross-Hesketh headed home a cross after the hosts had broken quickly.
However, two minutes later Kendal restored their two-goal advantage. Chris Wraighte found Yawson in the area and although Cookson got to the shot he could only parry and Kilifin followed-up to net.
On 59 minutes Kendal went 4-1 in front when Cookson failed to gather a cross and Croskell-Robinson headed into an empty net.
There was still fight left in Burscough when Hogarth committed a foul in the area, received a yellow card, but had to face a penalty which was tucked away by Edward Servuts.
That sparked a rejuvenated effort from the hosts and Hogarth made two fine saves before the finish to help his side to their first three points of the season.
