Kendal Town.....................0 Belper Town.......................2.

KENDAL town boss Tony Hesketh was left with plenty to ponder over this week as his side slipped to a disappointing home defeat on a heavy Parkside pitch.

The visitors, under the guidance of new boss Ernie Oliver, showed a determined attitude which was sustained for the 90 minutes whereas Kendal's own game uncharacteristically fell away, especially in defence with the new pairing of Dave Woodruffe and Paul McMenemy unable to follow- up last week's fine display with any real conviction.

There were, however, two changes from the side which beat Ossett the previous week as Hesketh recalled winger Chris Bennett and drafted in new signing Ian Kilford, who has joined the club from Barrow.

The visitors took the lead on 33 minutes when Jason Maxwell latched on to Ben Walker's parried shot and placed the ball into the empty net.

Kendal's leading scorer Kenny Mayers almost levelled the score three minutes later but was unable to keep his header on target following a Bennett cross.

Belper's Walker then went close with a lob before Kendal's best move of the half resulted in Bennett forcing a fine save from visiting goalkeeper Lee Wilson.

Lee Ashcroft should have ensured the scores were level at the break, but he somehow shot wide from ten yards deep into added time.

Kendal started the second half brightly as they mounted a series of attacks on the Belper goal as Kilford and Russ McKenna both saw efforts hacked off the line.

Distress signals began to appear at the other end as the Town's defence continually struggled to clear their lines in the tiring conditions.

Sean Gummer was gifted a chance on 69 minutes, but shot wide and it was Walker who eventually settled it when he arrived unmarked to fire a low shot past keeper Mark Thornley.

How they rated: Thornley 6, Rigby 6, McKenna 7, Woodruffe 5, McMenemy 5, Mercer 6, Bennett 6, Kilford 6 (Whittal-Williams 6, from 80 minutes), Foster 6 (Smith 7 from 80 minutes), Mayers 6, Ashcroft 6.