Kendal Town remains seventh in the table after a 1-1 draw against Blyth Town.

The match, which took place at The Westmorland Flooring Stadium, was their first home game of 2025.

The Mint Cakes are now three points away from the fifth playoff spot in Northern League Division 1, with a strong chance of challenging for the playoffs as the season approaches its final months.

Matt Flynn rises the highest to meet the ball (Image: Supplied) Kendal Town gave a debut to Joseph Superbly, who is on a month's loan from Morecambe Academy.

The team made a promising start within the first minute when Steven Yawson's effort from the edge of the box narrowly missed the target.

They dominated the early exchanges, with James Bailey also heading over the bar from Josh Winder’s delivery into the box.

Josh Winder goes in for a challenge (Image: Supplied) Kendal created further opportunities with Ryan Winder’s low free kick going straight to the keeper, and Bailey heading wide from another Winder corner.

The visitors, Blyth, almost opened the scoring seven minutes before half time but failed to find the target.

Kendal remained in control during the last five minutes of the half, with Matt Dudley and Steven Yawson going close to scoring.

(R) Steven Yawson celebrates after scoring the equaliser with (R) Ben Thomas (Image: Supplied) Blyth, however, broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, when Adam Johnson fired the ball into the bottom right corner.

The goal spurred Kendal into action, with Yawson forcing the Blyth keeper into a diving save and Ben Thomas’ effort being blocked by the defence.

Kendal equalised after 67 minutes when Steven Yawson side-footed a volley against the crossbar, which then found its way into the net.

Yawson showed great composure to score, having been in the right place at the right time to latch onto Ryan Winder’s cross.

Ryan Winder (Image: Supplied) Jimmy Marshall’s team carried the momentum into the last 20 minutes of the game, with Yawson proving a constant threat to Blyth's defence.

Blyth nearly regained the lead, seeing an effort blocked for a corner after almost capitalising on a mistake by Kendal's keeper, Chris Cheetham.

The Mint Cakes created another opportunity with nine minutes remaining, Yawson going close from a Tom Kilifin delivery.

However, Blyth almost won the game in the last few minutes, only to be denied by Cheetham’s diving save.

Steven Yawson celebrates after scoring the equaliser (Image: Supplied) Kendal was reduced to 10 men deep into stoppage time, after Matt Flynn was sent off by the referee.

The game ended all square, with both teams settling for a point.

Kendal Town’s game at Northallerton Town scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Kendal return to action on Saturday when they travel to play Easington Colliery.

Their next home game is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, when they welcome West Auckland Town to The Westmorland Flooring Stadium.