In a game that yielded 7 goals and no less than 6 goals in the first half, Irlam would eventually lose out, a 68th minute strike from Kendal's Jamie Pattinson that gave Kendal their fourth goal of the game, an ultimately the win at the RG3 Digital Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
An away win looked the most unlikely scenario on the day as Irlam raced into a two goal lead inside the first ten minutes. Irlam skipper Andy Langford was on target with just 6 minutes on the watch, the Irlam midfielder getting in front of his marker to glance a header home for the opener after an intense opening start to the game.
Ten minutes into the game and Irlam would have their second, Otulana cutting inside the Kendal defence to strike goalwards, the shot deflecting out of the post but into the path of Irlam forward Saul Henderson who calmly volleyed the ball into a gaping goal to make it 2-0.
On 17 minutes Kendal would get their opener. A strong header from Kendal's Chilufya was saved well by Irlam debutant keeper Josh Pelling, but the visitors were quickest to react to the loose ball as kendal's Tom Kilifin poked home from 5 yards.
20 minutes in and Irlam were nearly back on the goal trail, Henderson through on goal only for the keeper to save well, the rebound coming out to Otulana who could only fire over the bar, a real let off the Kendal.
However, minutes later Irlam would restore their two goal cushion as Jordan Icely was brought down in the Kendal area for the award of a penalty, Henderson stepping up to convert and make the score 3-1.
We only had to wait four minutes for the fifth goal of the game, and when Irlam keeper Pelling was caught in possession close to his goal line, Kendal's Yawson almost apologetically walked the ball into an empty goal to make it 3-2.
On 38 minutes Kendal would grab an equaliser, Kilifan heading home from a cross that would make it 3-3 at the break.
A fairly neutral start to the second period would see half chances come and go for both teams, Irlam keeper Pelling called into action twice early on in the half with decent saves with his feet, whilst at the other end Kinsella would strike a 30 yard shot that only just rose over the Kendal crossbar.
With Irlam making use of all 5 substitutes, the home side would pile on the pressure as the looked for the winner, but on 68 minutes their fortunes would take a turn for the worse. A ball crossed in from the right would evade Irlam's back line only to fall at the feet of Pattinson who bundled home Kendal's fourth of the game.
The introduction of new signing Danny Okuntz into the game was a bright spot in the game, Okuntz running freely at the Kendal defence, causing chaos as he went, but ultimately the fourth goal still evaded the home side.
Late chances would go Kendal's way, Pelling saving well in the dying minutes as the final whistle signalled a 3-4 victory for the visitors.