The phoney war is over and the next time Reds take to the field three league points will be at stake.

They completed their preparations with a far from convincing victory at Kendal and, hopefully, will use their training sessions this week to eradicate a few defensive issues which tarnished an otherwise useful workout.

Derek Townsley was certainly unhappy with aspects of their defending at times which ensured Kendal, who will start the season a division below Reds, remained in contention.

Indeed, had Town shown a little more composure in front of goal the outcome might have been different. They squandered some decent chances, particularly in the first half, leaving Townsley to berate his troops from the touchline.

“We were poor in the first 25 minutes and all over the place, defensively, but our opening goal settled us down and we improved after that,” said Reds general manager.

Town had the first shot on target with only two minutes on the clock, Sam Bailey’s free-kick forcing Aaran Taylor into a partial save with covering defender Sam Smith booting the loose ball to safety.

Taylor was again called into action when Dan Forbes broke through the inside left channel who saw his shot kept out by the ‘keeper’s feet.

After a slow start, Reds started to move the ball about well but their opening goal, against the run of play, was pure route-one stuff.Taylor launched the ball downfield and found Scott Allison who was immediately challenged by Town ‘keeper, Will Kitchen. The ball squeezed out to the alert Tom Kilifin who had the simple task of guiding the ball into the vacant net for Reds’ twenty seventh minute opener.

The striker, a former Kendal player, almost doubled the advantage in the next attack but his 20-yard attempt just cleared the bar.

Town had two decent chances to level but Ollie Wood lacked conviction and was denied on both occasions by goal line clearances from Josh Calvert.

When play switched to the other end, Allison broke through the middle but his thumping shot produced a finger-tip save from Kitchen at the expense of a corner.

Both Kilifin and Conor Tinnion should have done better with chances presented to them early in the second half but missed the target when, at the very least, should have forced the ‘keeper into action.

The hosts took advantage of more poor defending to force a fifty third minute equaliser. Wood’s cross from the right found Forbes in acres of space on the edge of the area and he drove the ball into the net past the helpless Taylor.

Wood had a chance to score but delayed momentarily enabling Kyle May to make an important block.

Reds regained the lead after seventy nine minutes with the impressive Allison again the provider. He weaved his way into the area then cut the ball back into Nathan Waterston’s path who confidently converted his first goal for the club.

But Town were back on terms two minutes later when Rob Wilson impeded Anthony Lynch both outside and inside the area. The referee penalised the second offence, pointed to the spot and booked Reds’ Wilson for his indiscretion. Matt Pooley converted the penalty and, with nine minutes left, it was level pegging.

Then, with three minutes remaining, Jake Simpson sent over a corner from the left and May dived to head past substitute ‘keeper Stuart Dixon, a former Reds’ player, for the late decider.

Reds have scored freely in pre-season but have conceded a few goals too, leaving plenty of food for thought for the management.

Kendal: Kitchen, Freeland, Thomas, Grundy, McDonald, Wardle, Bailey, Forbes, Bowman, Wood, Dudley. Substitutes – Magahon, Towers, Lynch, Dugdale, Pooley, Hoctor and Dixon.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Smith (Bethwaite, 61), Calvert, Douglas (May, 46), Earl (Wilson, 69), Symington, McLuckie, Kilifin (Waterston, 62), Allison, Tinnion (Hebson, 75).

Referee: Malcolm Bellamy

Attendance: 127