Kendal edge hard-fought win over play-off contenders Droylsden

It was a scrappy opening first 45 minutes with few clear-cut goalscoring opportunities but Johnstone's finish gave the Mintcakes their fourth win in five league games.

With last weekend's match at Harrogate Railway Athletic postponed due to the weather, boss Michael Stringfellow was keen for his in-form team to get back into action.

Stringfellow brought in experienced full-back Rob Henry from Lancaster City and he made his debut in the Kendal defence, freeing Craig Carney to take up his usual role in the heart of the midfield.

Droylsden are the league's top goalscorers with 74 goals in their 29 games but it was Kendal who created the best chances in the first half.

Zach Clark and Dave Swarbrick impressed on the wing and were a constant thorn in the side for Droylsden while Ciaran Kilheeney, the league's second-highest goalscorer, was kept quiet all afternoon by an impressive Ricky Mercer and his centre-back partner Rory Winters.

The first shot on goal came after 20 minutes when Clark drove through three challenges and drew a foul 30 yards out. The ball was whipped in and cleared to Jordan Connerton whose shot went straight down the throat of Droylsden goalkeeper Russell Saunders.

Ten minutes later and it was Swarbrick's turn to test Saunders when he skipped past two defenders but his shot was parried by the keeper and the winger's follow up shot ended in a throw-in for Droylsden.

The best chance of the half fell to Craig Carney on 38 minutes. Swarbrick nut-megged a defender and found Johnstone who clipped the ball over to the marauding midfielder - who, on the stretch - could only divert his effort past the left-hand side post.

Droylsden - who have lost nine matches on the road - came out fighting in the second half and piled on the pressure with a succession of corners and crosses which Kendal defended stoically.

But it was Kendal who had the first meaningful shot in goal in the second 45 when they broke rapidly through Carney and Swarbrick in a swift counter attack which ended when the latter lashed a shot over the crossbar.

Johnstone then saw his 12 yard shot well saved by Saunders but the striker, who signed from Bamber Bridge in December, was not to be denied moments later.

Connerton put pressure on a lumbersome Mat Kerr and dispossessed the centre-half in his own half before slotting in Clark on the right-wing.

Clark whipped in a devilish first-time low cross to the front post where Johnstone timed a run perfectly to come onto the cross and sweep home.

Droylsden almost replied immediately but Peter Dogan's deflected shot was saved by Liam Bleeker in the Kendal net.

Dogan was then substituted with a suspected dislocated shoulder before Swarbrick, who deserved a goal for his afternoon's work, could have sealed the win in added time when he latched onto a Connerton pass but was thwarted by Saunders.

There was late drama when Bleeker stopped a low Andy Flower drive before Ben McNamara lashed over a volley out of the ground as Kendal held on for a deserved win.

Kendal team: Liam Bleeker, Rob Henry, Danny Forbes, Ricky Mercer, Rory Winters, Aaron Helliwell, Dave Swarbrick, Craig Carney, Jordan Connerton, Gregg Johnstone, Zach Clark. Subs: Jonty MacDonald, Reece Fishwick, Byron Andrew, George Mason, Tommy Watson. Att. 202.