Football - Clark's four-timer lifts Ambleside (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football - Clark's four-timer lifts Ambleside

10:12am Saturday 8th November 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

BECAUSE original opponents Wetheriggs United were occupied in the Cumberland Cup, Ambleside United had a rearranged fixture against Greystoke, but despite a 5-2 win they failed to play up to the standard they had set recently. Two penalty misses did not help the cause and but for Zach Clark's contribution up front, Ambleside could have struggled.

Unable to command a regular spot for Kendal Town, Clark has signed for Unibond First Division North outfit Rossendale. But with that club in disarray after a managerial change, his services were not needed on Saturday and Ambleside were glad - he scored four times.

The visitors could not cope with Clark's pacy, jinking runs as he cut in from the right and he also showed bravery in a one-on-one challenge with the keeper for another of his goals.

Sub Jamie Parkinson, relegated to the bench for disciplinary reason, scored the other goal and it should have been more but for the Greystoke keeper saving spot-kicks from David Cooper and Matt Parkinson.

Young midfielders James Benjamin and Dan Fox had good games in an otherwise lacklustre team display. Kendal County made a spirited comeback - turning a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 win - to inflict a first league defeat of the season upon Appleby in the first division of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League on Saturday. County went a goal down after 15 minutes when Appleby took advantage of some poor marking and Richard Faustino's long throw-in found John Coward unmarked to head into the corner.

A second Appleby goal arrived when Tony Johnston cleverly turned Matthew Swallow and crashed a shot on to the crossbar, and Jamie Mitchell's failed clearance fell kindly for Gavin Sowerby to knock in.

That jolted County into action and after having an effort ruled offside they got a deserved goal just before half time when James Ellwood crossed to Steve Robinson on the edge of the box with his back to goal. He brought the ball under control and turned to shoot leaving the keeper no chance.

The second half pretty much went the same way with County piling on the pressure and were rewarded five minutes in when Ben Haddrick slotted home Dave Glynn's cross.

Ten minutes later, County went ahead for the first time at 3-2 when a good ball by skipper Dan Ferguson sent Robinson through and his shot was deflected in as the keeper was left wrong-footed. Appleby kept going but never really troubled keeper Adam Hornby again.

County wrapped up a 4-2 victory when young centre-half Curtis Nicholson - making his first-team debut - powerfully headed home Ellwood's corner kick.

Coniston got off to a flying start by scoring straight from the kick-off but once Burneside got their passing game going they dominated possession in a 3-3 draw.

Burneside equalised after ten minutes from good work by Darren Huck who set up Martin Willan. Willan cut inside and drove the ball into the back of the net, and the same player got Burneside's second goal after hitting home a Greg Pearce cross.

Burneside opened up a two-goal lead when a good run from Jordan Knowles split the Coniston defence. Knowles crossed to Huck, who controlled the ball on his chest before volleying it into the top corner.

Coniston reduced the arrears after a mistake by Burneside's keeper whose clearance went straight to a Coniston player who hit it straight back over his head. Coniston's third came from a good run from midfield.

Burneside Reserves got the better of Ullswater by 2-1, withMark Selby getting both goals for Burneside.