Kidsgrove Athletic....4 Kendal Town..............0 KENDAL went into this game as the UniBond First Division top goalscorers for September, but that cut no ice with a side who boast the league's best defensive record.

After a bright start the home side took a third minute lead when Matthew Rhead floated the ball over goalkeeper Mark Thornley and saw his effort drop just under the crossbar.

Kendal's Michael Jack had an opportunity to level on 14 minutes, but chose to slip the ball to Kenny Mayers who was subsequently closed down by the home defence.

Despite trailing at this early stage Town were pressing for an equaliser, forcing numerous corners without seriously testing keeper Stuart Heeps.

Kendal then suffered a blow on 28 minutes when Russ McKenna diverted Patrick Shaugnessy's low cross into his own net Town almost pulled themselves back into the game midway through the second half when Mayers was unfortunate to see his effort come back off the woodwork.

Five minutes later Kidsgrove went further ahead when Shaugnessy raced clear down the left before firing an angled shot past Thornley.

Shaugnessy grabbed his second seven minutes from time after Rhead had nodded the ball into his path.

Only the feet of Thornley denied him a hat-trick a minute later.

There was late drama when home sub Dave Swannick received a straight red for an off the ball incident.

That incident briefly flared up again as the players entered the tunnel after the game.

How they rated: Thornley 6, Rigby 5, McMenemy 6 (Galley from 80min), Whittal-Williams 6, Taylor 6, Jack 6 (Sheppard from 67min), Smith 7, McKenna 5, Foster 5 (Burrow from 77min), Mayers 6, Woodruffe 6.