Kendal Town 1- Stocksbridge PS 1.

IT REQUIRED a strike from former Lancaster City marksman Stuart Diggle, midway through the second period, to earn Kendal Town a deserved share of the spoils against strong Yorkshire side Stocksbridge Park Steels who were looking to build on a successful campaign last season which saw them finish just out of the promotion places in fourth position.

Kendal's new-look squad was officially paraded at the start of their UniBond League Division One opener at Parkside on Saturday and they enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and were unfortunate not to have gone ahead when Wayne Maddock anticipated a clever step-over from Diggle only to see his goal-bound effort denied by the legs of visiting goalkeeper Ross Turner.

Moments later Stuart Parkinson went on a promising run, cutting in from the left before releasing teammate Diggle, but his shot was disappointingly wide from a potentially-dangerous position.

On 22 minutes, Stocksbridge striker Vill Powell tried his luck with an overhead kick, but the ball fell straight into the arms of Town keeper Cyril Sharrock.

It was the visitors who went ahead ten minutes into the second half, courtesy of a deflected strike from Kevin Ronan.

Their lead was to be short-lived, however, as Kendal replied with an equaliser just eight minutes later.

David Foster, who put in a tireless afternoon of work, sprinted clear down the right flank before delivering an early centre.

Diggle got on to the receiving end to score despite the close attentions of two defenders.

The visitors rallied looking to restore their lead, but could not penetrate a Town defence superbly marshalled by Dave Burrow.