APPLEBY returned to winning way with a 4-0 defeat of Dent in the Westmorland FA Benevolent Trophy on Saturday.

Jock' Nugent's side were expected to beat the Second Division opponents, but the visitors played some neat football and would have gone ahead but for Paul Crawford's brilliant save to deny Moffat's low shot at the far post.

Instead Appleby began to dominate possession and went ahead when John Coward burst through from midfield and single-mindedly took on the defence himself to score. Shortly afterwards Neil Dean set up David Fleming to outpace his marker and add a second. It might have been more at half-time, but for the Dent keeper.

In the second half, it was the turn of Crawford to dash Dent's hopes with good save to deny Hoggarth and Hartley before Appleby made it 3-0 as Dent failed to clear a ball into the box and Coward hit a venomous half-volley into the roof of the goal.

Neil Dean had been denied several times but got the better of the Dent stopper at last when he lobbed him from the edge of the box.

Full back Nicky Slee was Appleby's man of the match. Keeper Crawford had an excellent game, while in front of him young centre-back Thomas Armstrong was a commanding presence.

Appleby Reserves also won at Penrith Rangers Res, a 3-0 victory coming with goals from Carl Pratt, Alan Hill and Andrew Dawson.

Carvetii United stepped up their pursuit of Division Two leaders Northbank Carlisle Reserves with a 7-0 win over Keswick Reserves.

Carvetii are eight points adrift of the leaders but have three matches in hand.

Westmorland League results: Div 1: Ibis 1, Greystoke 2; Lunesdale Utd 1, Kendal Town Res 2; Staveley Utd 0, Kendal County 7; Windermere 3, Coniston 3.

Div 2: Burneside 3, Northbank Carlisle Res 0; Carvetii Utd 7, Keswick Res 0; Kendal County Res 3, Ullswater Utd 0; Wetheriggs Utd Res 4, Shap 3.

Div 3: Ambleside Utd Res 1, Carvetii Utd Res 1; Penrith Rangers Res 0, Appleby Res 3; Wetheriggs Utd A 4, Carleton Rovers Res 5.

Div 4: Dent Res 1, Kendal Celtic Res 8; Greystoke Res 1, Lunesdale Utd Res 2; Langwathby 1, Endmoor Res 3; Penrith Utd 3, Kendal Utd 4; Shap Res 0, Burneside Academy 3; Wetheriggs SC A 0, Coniston Res 4.