TWO stoppage time Brighouse Town goals denied Kendal Town their first three points of the season in a dramatic draw at the Lancaster and Morecambe College Stadium.

Strikes from Kieran Pickup and the returning Maison McGeechan had looked to have given the Mintcakes the three points.

But Ryan Hall calmly dispatched a 93rd minute penalty before centre-back Tyrone Gay turned home from close range sparking scenes of jubilation on the West Yorkshire outfit's bench.

Boss Dave Foster rung the changes from the 4-0 defeat to Newcastle Benfield in the FA Cup with Danny MacDonald back between the sticks while John Ross, Mike Rushton and Mark Jackson were all back in the starting 11.

And it was Kendal who dominated the opening exchanges with the lively McGeechan causing trouble for the Brighouse back four.

First he flashed wide from three yards after a Ricky Mercer knock down after nine minutes. McGeechan had his hands on his head but the linesman spared his blushes as he raised the flag for offside.

McGeechan, on the 26 minute mark, then rolled his marker on the edge of the penalty box. He had time to compose himself but his shot was repelled by Brighouse keeper Jacob Giles.

A short corner minutes later was eventually delivered by Rob Wilson. Giles palmed away Rory Winters’ guided header to deny Kendal the opening goal.

But they did take the lead after 39 minutes through Pickup, who signed from Padiham in the summer.

Neat build-up play by Wilson and Jackson saw Rushton in acres of space on the right. A low near post cross was met by Pickup who slotted home from close range.

Brighouse almost immediately restored parity when MacDonald was forced into action as a dangerous left wing cross was turned goalwards by Lydon Hodgkiss on the stroke of half-time.

But it was Kendal who claimed the game’s next goal five minutes after the restart.

McGeechan ran onto Pickup’s delicately lifted through ball before rounding Giles and rolling into an empty net.

He almost grabbed a second when his speculative 40 yard lob floated wide with Giles caught off his line.

Brighouse Town’s Ryan Hall had a number of chances to reduce the deficit but it wasn’t until stoppage time that they opened their account.

The away side had been pushing hard and found the breakthrough when substitute Craig Carney handled in the box allowing Hall to score.

And they grabbed an unlikely equaliser when a long ball wasn’t cleared by MacDonald. The ball fell at the feet of David Melling whose shot was heading wide before Gay diverted home from six yards.