Kendal Town start a series of four straight away games in the Northern League tomorrow when they travel to Crook Town.
Although they will travel without the suspended DJ Taylor and James Bailey, they go in good heart after Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with title challengers Shildon.
It was quite an eventful game with no goals in the first-half; the Mintcakes twice having to come from behind to level and then taking a 3-2 lead. But in time added on Shildon scored the equaliser.
Adam Lennox (52) put Shildon ahead before DJ Taylor (730 levelled and then Luke Spaulding (765) put the visitors back in front.
Substitute Jamie Looker equalised on 77 minutes and appeared to have won it with his second four minutes from the end.
The disaster as Shildon found the third goal from Billy Greulich-Smith in the second minute of time added on to take home a point.
Manager Matt Flynn said it was the best performance by his team in his time in charge, because of the quality of the opposition.
Shildon and Guisborough are having a head-on battle for the title and Kendal are among a group of clubs battling for three play-off places.
They are third in the table while hosts Crook Town are down in 15th some 27 points behind the south Cumbrians but from three less games.
You can hear the latest news on the club from chairman Michael O’Neill below:
Carlisle City are 11th after a 3-2 defeat in mid-week at home to West Auckland.
Manager Dan Kirkup described the first half as bad a 45 minutes of football as he has seen in his career.
They finished the half 3-0 down and Kirkup made four changes at half-time with a positive result as the team came out fighting and could have got something in the end.
He added: “But with how bad the first half was we wouldn’t have deserved anything.
“I got an annoying red card which typified how soft the game has become. Went up for a standard header with a lad and he ended up holding his head, rolling about saying I had caught him.
“Wouldn’t have been a foul 10 years ago and it got me a three-match ban.”
A penalty on seven minutes from Wayne Whitfield got West Auckland off to a flyer and Benjamin Dale added a second after 29 minutes. Ben Trotter made it 3-0 in the 36th minute.
City’s revival started with a goal from Trent Chapman on 68 minutes and they were helped by a Dale own goal after 76 minutes but four minutes later Kirkup was sent off.
Kirkup will be insisting on a real bounce back tomorrow when they travel to the bottom side Whickham who have only won three times in 25 games – with 16 defeats on their record.
The third Cumbrian side in the Northern League, Penrith, are involved in Fred Conway County Cup quarter final action when they travel to Cleator Moor Celtic, who play their football in the West Lancashire League.
Carlisle City, the County Cup holders, will play their quarter final at home to Windscale on Tuesday night.
Workington Reds and Kirkoswald are already through to the semi-finals.
