GOALS, goals and more goals gave Kendal Town a confidence lift, if they needed it ahead of Wednesday's visit by League One side Preston North End, with a slick 9-0 victory over Blackpool FC's youth team in Saturday's friendly at Parkside.

There was sadness, however, at the start of the game as a minute's applause was held in memory of Nicky Dent, a former player with Town Reserves at one time, who died so tragically at the age of 29 last week.

After Blackpool managed to block a couple of firm efforts, Town went ahead from an 18th-minute penalty when Andy Bell was unceremoniously bumped over and Ciaran Donnelly sent the keeper the wrong way with the spot kick.

Donnelly orchestrated much of what gave Town their fluency and attacking venom in the first half, with Alex Taylor, Ashley Dunn and Danny Williams also impressing.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Williams' penetrating run through the heart of midfield paved the way for Taylor the hammer home into the top left-hand corner.

Blackpool could not take advantage of a free kick in the Town box when Tim Baines was adjudged to have put a back-pass through to keeper Craig Dootson, and Jamie Menagh blasted his shot over the bar.

But it was 3-0 on the half-hour, this time Bell running through despite looking suspiciously offside, to finish with aplomb.

From then on the floodgates opened as Ashley Dunn thumped in a firm low shot and Bell followed up with his second goal after the Blackpool keeper parried Taylor's shot to his feet.

Dunn's second goal, another endearing firm finish, was followed Taylor hooking in coyly at the near post in a croweded six-yard box totot it up to 7-0 at the break.

The second half never lived up to that extravagant script as Town reshuffled with half a dozen exits and entrances.

Anyway, Blackpool looked more composed on the ball and enjoyed a fair bit of possession, but Town's young keeper Tom Newton denied them a consolation, saving well when nippy Alex Addai got in behind the defence.

It was the 78th minute before another goal came on a thankfully dry afternoon after the morning's deluge.

It was Town's eighth of the afternoon, Danny Williams drifting all too easily past tiring defenders on the edge of the box before poking home.

In the 84th minute substitute Tom Kilfinin caught the eye with a smart finish after Liam Blakeman scooped the ball over the back four.

Town boss Lee Ashcroft said: "It was good to see the goals go flying in and some of the hard work and move done on the training pitch come to fruition, but the focus remains being ready for that first league match in a month's time."