IN a season sparse on draws, Albion have now been held twice in as many matches.

They have lost momentum as a result but remain, along with a host of others, contenders in a race to the table’s top five.

Witton arrived in Cumbria red-faced after failing to beat back-markers New Mills in midweek, but broke into smiles when Danny Andrews scored a close-range opener.

And he was denied a second goal when Kendal custodian Will Kitchen stretched to divert a free kick from distance.

The hosts’ leveller on 28 minutes was stylish; on-loan midfielder Charlie Bailey, after receiving the ball in midfield, slalomed past attempted tackles before nudging the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Dylan Forth.

Jamie Matthews had Albion’s best chance to equaliser before the break, but his attempt was off-target after he wriggled away from defenders closest to him.

Fellow forward Rob Hopley prompted Kitchen to save again too.

The outcome was the same when Hopley shot with power through a crowd of players on the hour, only for Kendal’s number one to tip over.

Nor could Hopley direct a header into the net from his next effort either.

At the other end, Forth thwarted Bailey.

And Albion’s new net-minder, who has arrived from Chester to replace now-departed Andy Firth, produced his best stop to stop Ben Thomas’ low shot late on.

Carl Maculey’s men, unbeaten now in the past half-dozen league games, slip to 11th in the standings.

However the distance to a promotion play-offs place is only five points.

Kendal | Kitchen (GK), Aspin, Thomas, Sam Bailey, Wardle, Forbes, Bondswell, Charlie Bailey, Breslin (Gierke 71), Helliwell, Hoctor (Pattinson 85) Subs not used Davies, Towers, Fawcett Goal Charlie Bailey 28

Witton | Forth (GK), Parker, Gardner, Wilson, Dawson, Andrews, Schofield, Reeves, Newton, Matthews, Hopley Subs not used Garner (GK), Parle, Carden, Titchiner, Main Goal Andrews 7

Referee Nathaniel Cox

Attendance 163