Rueful Ambleside let lead slip - twice (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rueful Ambleside let lead slip - twice

9:39am Friday 21st September 2007

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AMBLESIDE United's stated ambition of a top-four place on their return to Division 1 of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League does not smack of over- confidence after a narrow defeat by Wetheriggs United.

Ambleside were twice ahead with the points there for the taking but Wetheriggs'' never-say-die reputation was justified again as they recovered to snatch the victory.

Ambleside began brightly and went ahead after seven minute when new signing Jamie Parkinson seized on a loose ball to chip over the keeper, who could only parry an initial shot.

Wetheriggs equalised on 20 minutes after the home side failed to clear their lines and the keeper was lobbed and it stayed that way up to half time.

Ambleside reshuffled at the break and started the second half purposefully, their reward coming with a 2-1 lead when Phil Parsons - sent up front - swivelled on a throw and fired into the bottom corner.

Ambleside dominated for a 10-minute spell without getting a third goal and instead Wetheriggs capitalised when the keeper failed to collect a free kick and the ball was poked in from close range.

Wetheriggs finished strongly and produced a well-taken winning goal as a poor Ambleside header did not clear the danger.

Ambleside manager Matt Bland said: "The win was there for the taking when we had them on the rack. We went ahead twice and finished gutted with the result, but can still take a positive from pushing them close and we are aiming for a top-four place."

Kendal County scrambled a 1-0 victory at Carvetii United in a hard-working, if at times scrappy, display which illustrated the saying "a win is a win."

Striker Gary Taylor made his seasonal bow, with County playing several players out of position because of absentees, while Carvetii, too, were below-strength because of a stag party.

Taylor almost made an instant goal-scoring return when forcing a reaction save as a strong crosswind made life difficult in a goalless first half.

Steve Cross twice cut inside to produce two good first-half chances for Dan Ferguson, but the wind held up the ball as failed to convert.

Keeper Nick Dent had been playing largely as a sweeper but flung himself across goal to pal, away a stinging 25-yard shot.

County improved in the second half, playing to feet instead of launching hopeful balls forward, with Gary Baker and Craig Robinson supplying the forwards more effectively.

The breakthrough came when the impressive Cross again cut inside his marker but this time shot at goal from fully 25 yards and the ball flew into the bottom corner to give County a deserved lead.

Chances to make the game comfortable followed but Dan Johnson and Baker could not take advantage and Carvetii almost snatched a point as a series of free kicks rained into the County penalty area.

County boss Dave Chambers said: "With some of the recognised first-team squad returning it will be difficult to drastically changed the team after some of the individual performances, but with numbers back up to a reasonable amount for both teams, the competition for places returns and I expect a big improvement in terms of quality."

Appleby returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Ibis to go second to early pacesetters Wetheriggs United.

Both sides were under-strength with players attending weddings and Appleby reshuffled, with Richard Faustino moved inside to the centre of midfield alongside John Coward and the pair of them played very well.

"We played with a lot more enthusiasm than last weekend, when our heads went down, which was pleasing," said manager Jock' Nugent, but he added: "We are struggling a bit to finish off sides once we get on top."

It was Appleby's third win and, with two draws and only one defeat, they have 11 points from six, while Wetheriggs' four-match winning sequence gives them top spot by a single point.

Appleby went ahead quarter of an hour before the break when Coward played a neat one-two with Neil Dean, who turned in front of goal on the line of the 18-yard box and hit a shot towards the top corner that the Ibis keeper got a hand to but could not keep out.

Ibis never really troubled the home side in the second half but Paul Moffatt and Andrew Dawson could not convert chances before the second goal came when Coward ran into the box and shimmied past two defenders before sidefooting home.

Sedbergh Wanderers' hopes of arresting a four-year decline at the club saw more changes last week.

The Wanderers' fortunes have gone downhill with the equivalent of a full time leaving in the past 18 months, Aaron Siemaszko took over the troubled first-team hot seat this season with Kevin Kirkby assuming responsibility for the reserves. But after a disappointing start to the campaign, Siemaszko has resigned after four games in charge.

Without a first-team manager and players missing, Sedbergh have turned to Kevin Kirkby to try to pull the situation round and a very young cup side faced Barnoldswick last Saturday in the Yorkshire Craven Cup.

A 3-0 victory was the heartening result courtesy of an own goal and two strikes from Ollie Wales after good approach play by Elliot Oxley, Chris Wheatley and Luke Packham.

Sedbergh now have an emergency meeting tonight (Thursday) to appoint a second-team boss after Saturday's fixtures against Wetheriggs Resevers was postponed because of a lack of players. If no one comes forward, Sedbergh face the withdrawal of the second team from the league.

A Keswick side showing five changes from the last match conceded an early goal at Northbank Reserves, but reverted to a more settled 4-4-2 pattern and equalised through Andy Frampton's looping effort.

A second Keswick goal came when Loan turned and fired home from 15 yards only for Northbank to make it 2-2 before half time and then take a 3-2 lead when play resumed.

In the last five minutes a Northbank defender's quickly-taken mishit goal kick proved costly, the ball bouncing off Loan and to the unmarked Robinson, who was pushed over.

Frampton sent the keeper the wrong way with the ensuing penalty kick to earn a point, but they were unhappy to have let in three in a below-par display.

Greystoke were too strong for Windermere, putting five past the visitors without reply.

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