Evo-Stik Premier League Hucknall Town 4 Kendal Town 3 THREE goals in a five minute spell for Hucknall put paid to Kendal Town’s hopes of a revival after a dismal week at Parkside Road.

Town went into the match off the back of a 5-2 league defeat and a 3-2 cup exit to Clitheroe, but fared no better by the final whistle.

Despite Ashcroft making three changes to the starting line up, Mathew Ashcroft coming in for suspended Rory Winters, new signing Chris Wraighte replacing Lee Mulvaney and Ashley Dunn replacing Hucknall took a 23rd-minute lead against the run of play when Danwell Francis ran onto a ball over the top with midfielders Carl Osman and Gary Stopforth at loggerheads and he deftly deposited past Newnes on a day where the defence failed to communicate with each other.

On 28 minutes Walmsley equalised from the spot after Glenn Steel was pulled down in the box, chasing a Rowe flick on.

And Kendal should have been ahead at the break but Steel’s header at the back post went off the post and wide as Kendal built a momentum.

But a crazy five minutes gave the hosts the initiative as Dean Gent latched onto a through ball from Jared Holmes and beat David Newnes from five yards.

Just 90 seconds later 2-1 was 3-1 when Anthony Griffith-Junior hit a wonderstrike from 30 yards which ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net.

Three minutes later the points went the home side’s way when Tris Whitman headed home at the back post from a Griffith-Junior cross from the left.

Losing 4-1, manager Lee Ashcroft gambled by bringing on fresh legs in Danny McGahon, Dave Foster and Shaun Gardner.

And with just four minutes to go McGahon and Gardner combined to give Town fans brief hope of a comeback.

A long punt upfield from McGahon found Gardner 20 yards out and after controlling well he found space to the right of his marker and unleashed a strike around keeper Ross Whalin which nestled in the bottom right corner.

As full time approached Walmsley stepped up with a trademark free kick which rocketed into the top left corner of Whalin’s goal after Foster was fouled.

The referee played six minutes of added time, during which Newnes was booked for a last-ditch tackle on the edge of his box and Danny Rowe fired high and wide with the last kick.

Town have now lost three games in a row, conceding 12 goals, with the defence lacking communication on the pitch.

On several occasions Town were exposed with the long ball as Hucknall’s pacy forwards got in on goal and on another day sharper shooting could have seen a rugby scoreline inflicted on the Parkside Road club.

HOW THEY RATED: David Newnes 6, Keiran Walmsley 6, Danny Wisdom 6, Glenn Steel 7, Mathew Ashcroft 6, Gary Stopforth 7, Carl Osman 6 (rep Danny McGahon 62mins), Danny Rowe 6, Ashley Dunn 7, Alex Taylor 6 (rep Dave Foster 62mins), Chris Thwaites 7 (rep Shaun Gardner 78mins). Subs: Jordan Tucker, Ian Kilford.

STAR MAN: Ashley Dunn – control on the ball and fought for everything, even at 4-1 down.

Att: 207