Kendal Town ended a disappointing run of home performances with a good win over Birtley Town to keep their play-off hopes on track.
The Mintcakes won 4-2 to move back to third in the Northern League Division One table.
But with the top two clear, and fighting for the title between them, the rest are battling for three places and it could involve six or seven as things stand at the moment.
Kendal, with three new faces in the line-up – who all did well – had made a good start by taking an eighth minute lead through Bailey Kenny.
That was doubled on 17 minutes by DJ Taylor before Birtley hit back with a goal from Reece Harrison just after the half hour mark.
Kendal’s two goal advantage was restored four minutes before the break through Taylor’s second goal.
If there was a criticism it was that Kendal didn’t really kick on from there and it became a nervous finish after Sam Shelley scored Birtley’s second in the 72nd minute.
However Kendal did have the last word and Jamie Looker’s goal in the fifth minute of added time made the points safe.
You can hear below what chairman Michael O’Neill thought of the performance:
Meanwhile Penrith completed a tough week by travelling to leaders Shildon just days after they had lost 3-1 at second-in-the-table Guisborough – the two sides who have the title between them.
It finished 3-1 again but Penrith battled well after a backs-to-the-wall effort in the first half had restricted the leaders to a 1-0 lead, Luke Spalding scoring after just six minutes.
They had started the second-half well and were thoughts that Shildon could have had their keeper sent-off after bringing down Connor Hammell as he went round him on the edge of the box. It was only a yellow though.
Almost immediately at the other end Billy Greulich-Smith (62) doubled the Shildon lead and it was virtually over three minutes later when Joe Posthill made it 3-0.
Credit to Penrith who kept going, created a couple of chances and did reduce the arrears after 78 minutes with a Hammell penalty.
You can hear below what manager Jim Nichols thought of the game:
The third Cumbrian side Carlisle City were narrowly beaten 1-0 at Newcastle Benfield.
It was one of those games which had looked to be heading for a 0-0 stalemate when the hosts were presented with a winner four minutes from the end.
City had defended solidly throughout until the late error and had been deserving of a point, even though they had created little themselves.
Albert McPate scored the only goal of the game after 86 minutes to spoil a hard-working display from the Cumbrians.
Manager Dan Kirkup gives his views below:
