REACTING well to last week's wake-up call when North West Feeder League leaders Wigton overwhelmed them, Kendal were back on song for a 5-1 victory over Wigan Seconds in an entertaining game on the Cinder Ovens all-weather pitch.

Kendal needed to register a win to maintain their push for a top-four place and keep them out of the play-off uncertainty affecting teams in mid-table.

At present they are joint third with Northern, three points ahead of sixth-placed Kirkby Stephen, who have a match in hand after a 5-0 victory over Didsbury last weekend. So it seems some lively local rivalry looks set to feature in the run-in to the season.

On Saturday the Kendal players turned up with a spot-on attitude and dominated for much of the match.

Keeper Holly Price had little to do in the first half and the visitors allowed Kendal the space to work the ball down both sides and through midfield, meaning they could play well up the pitch with a comfort and authority.

Early goals made life easier with young Sarah Kay Martindale doing the hard work to be well positioned for a tap-in at the far post after continuous attacking play.

Further goals before half time came from Louise Whiteley and Rachel Elleray, and both featured simple but effective play as Kendal moved the ball through the opposition with good inter-passing.

Defensively, Gemma Martindale had a fine game to earn herself the Kendal player-point, marking her opponent attentively and always in the thick of the action in front of her own goal.

Lots of free hits meant plenty of possession and though Kendal chilled out' a bit in the second half, they went 4-0 up when Whiteley finished off Elleray's good run with a well-placed push-shot into the far corner.

Wigan drew the attack on to themselves and good retention of the ball was rewarded with a swift breakaway for a well-worked goal.

Kendal responded with a fifth as Elleray knocked in a rebound to make it 5-1, giving the team a very positive note to finish on.

Right back Helen Hartley, still nursing a knee injury, made a pleasing comeback with a lot of useful work.