LANCASTER City slumped to their first defeat of the season in their favourite competition on Tuesday night.

They lost 4-3 in an eventful game at Kendal, which saw former City assistant boss Mick Hoyle put one over the Dolly Blues.

Just to rub it in, the damage was done by a former Giant Axe favourite, striker Kevin Barnes.

Barnes headed home a Lee Chambers corner within the first minute and doubled the advantage two minutes later -- a bit of a shock to the system for teenager Andrew Speight in the city goal.

Barnes completed his hat trick inside the half hour and, before half time James Shepherd hit the goal of the night from 25 yards.

So, as the 45 minute mark came up, City looked out of it. Three minutes later, when the half time whistle went, the game looked somewhat different.

Firstly, Colin Potts scored from a free kick and then created a second goal for Brian Welch. City pulled back another goal through Dean Martin on 77 minutes, and Kendal were left hanging on, with one unusual incident seeing Kendal penalised for time wasting on a throw in, with the referee bizarrely deciding to give the throw the other way.

Boss Tony Hesketh said: "The result was disappointing. The game came prior to the cup tie on Saturday against Stocksbridge and the sure show against Burton on Friday. Perhaps we could have done with a free week this week.

"Every team has to lose sometime and, because we are in a league system, if we win our next two games we can still qualify.

"We threw Andrew Speight in a the deep end and before he had chance to settle down he had picked the ball out of the back of his net twice. None of their goals could be directly blamed on him."

A delighted Hoyle said: "Obviously we are very pleased... I thought we were worthy winners.

"I took Kevin to Fleetwood from Lancaster and only last week I managed to persuade him to come and play for us and so far he has managed five goals in two games. He felt he had a point to prove and he has come up with a superb hat trick.

"Lancaster were very kind in defeat. Times have moved on.

"They are a top side in the Unibond premier league and good luck to them this season. I'm still a Lancaster lad and it is still the first result I look for."

RESULT: Kendal Town 4 Lancaster City 3