Kendal Town 3, Stocksbridge Park Steels 2.

NEW boy Kenny Mayers, a close season capture from Barrow by manager Tony Hesketh, struck three times in 10-minutes to win the opening match of Kendal Town's UniBond League first Division campaign.

Visitors Stocksbridge Park Steels had dominated the opening half-hour then Mayers turned things on their head by latching on to an immaculate defence-splitting pass from right back Paul Rigby and diverting it past keeper Richard Siddall.

Six minutes later Russell McKenna lifted a ball into the Stocksbridge box and Mayers, with his back to goal, volleyed over his head into the top left corner of the net.

Steels were still reeling when midfielder Daved Woodruffe's long ball from the left found former manager Peter Smith on the right and he Launched a perfect cross from the bye-line for Mayers to head home.

A good, talking to at half-time saw Steels take the game to Town from the start of the second half and within a minute they had pulled one back.

Duncan Richards cut across the edge of the box, drew the defence to the right then cut the ball back past keeper Mark Thornley into the left corner of the net.

Steels then saw three shots crash against the woodwork, but they did have some compensation in the 72nd minute when one of those rebounds led to Dave Burrow felling Duncan Bray in the area.

Wayne Bullimore smashed the penalty in to set up an anxious final 15 minutes for Town.

Victory will put the side in good heart for Tuesday night's next test, an away trip to league newcomers Warrington.