Westmorland: County's Senior glory (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Westmorland: County's Senior glory

9:38am Friday 30th April 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

THE SEEMINGLY jinxed cup fortunes of Kendal County finally took an upturn at last when they secured the Westmorland FA Senior Cup at Parkside on Saturday.

Kendal County 3 -Carleton Rovers 2.

County have been on the wrong end of two close cup verdicts - once in the Benevolent Trophy final, and another in the High Sheriff's Cup semi-finals. They went 3-1 up in Saturday's final, but when Carleton pulled a second goal back, they had to show all their character to hang on.

Ben Haddrick was on hand at the far post in the eighth minute to volley in a cross for 1-0 to County, but they were hit on the break two minutes later when Matty Lee carved through the lax County defence to slide in an equaliser.

County came close to doubling their lead in the 24th minute when Shaun Palmer ended a good run down the left with a long-range dipping shot which just went over the bar In the 26th minute Carleton again left Haddrick unmarked and he headed home from a looping cross.

Just before half time Craig Walmsley slipped his marker in front of goal and made it 3-1.

Carleton had chances to get back into the game when Paul Kipling tried his luck from 20 yards and, just before the interval, Paul Pattinson headed just over from a free-kick.

County generally looked the more solid side both in defence and attack and it might have been expected that they would run away with the game, The closest they came to adding to their total, however, was when Lee Blamire just failed to stretch far enough as he tried to convert Walmsley's low drive across the box.

Then 30 minutes into a second half of disjointed play, Lee escaped round the left side of the County defence. His low ball across the face of goal was pushed on by Neil McNaughton and diverted in for an own goal by Phil Hodgson.

Back in the game Carleton survived heavy County pressure which led to several corners then nearly snatched a late equaliser when a speculative shot hit the bar near the end, but on balance of play County just about deserved their victory.

CONISTON, with three matches left to play, know that their hopes of winning the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League first division title lies in their own hands.

Coniston assistant manager Dennis Blair said: "It's all up in the air at present, but we're not reliant on anyone else from here on in."

Coniston were due to play Kendal Town Reserves at Parkside last night, then Appleby at home on Saturday before finishing by entertaining reigning champions and title rivals Wetheriggs United on Saturday, May 8.

Only Wetheriggs and Kendal County are also still in with a shout of winning the title.

But as Mr Blair points out: "If we win one of the games and don't lose another, then we have a great chance. But it still could go to the last match of the season against Wetheriggs and we all realise that."

Coniston are nine points ahead of second-placed Kendal County, who have a match in hand.

Third-placed Wetheriggs are 13 points adrift but have three matches in hand of the leaders.

Striker David Cooper has come good for Coniston this season with 30-odd goals in league and cup matches.

Cooper, who has come through from the second team has a somewhat unorthodox style but: "If he gets the ball in the penalty box then its going into the net," says Blair.

Cooper has bagged nine goals in the last three matches. He notched a four-timer against Sedbergh Wanderers, scored twice in a 2-0 win against Lunesdale and then grabbed a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Carleton Rovers, with Stuart Walker and Timmy Fletcher also on target.

Division Two leaders Ibis clinched promotion with a resounding 5-0 victory at home to Kirkoswald on Tuesday, having beaten Dent 9-0 away last Thursday.

In both games Ibis led 1-0 at half time, despite creating more chances, before going on to dominate possession in the second half and finish off their opponents.

Results: Wednesday Division Two: Dent 5, Shap United 4; Keswick Reserves 0, Carvetii United 0; Division Three: Appleby Reserves 1, Burneside Reserves 2; Greystoke Reserves 2, Carleton Rovers Reseves 0; Windermere SC Reserves 3, Kendal Celtic 1.

DivisionFour: Endmoor KGR Reserves 7, Lunesdale United Reserves 1; Ibis Reserves 3, Staveley United Reserves 0; Penrith Academy 0, Northbank Carlisle Reserves 3.

Tuesday Division One: Appleby 1, Kendal Town Reserves 0; Lunesdale United 2, Keswick 1; Penrith Reserves 1, Kendal County 3; Staveley United 5, Carleton Rovers 0; Windermere SC 1, Wetheriggs United 3.

Division Two: Ibis 5, Kirkoswald 0.

Rosthwaite Arabian/Austin Wren Cup, group A: Ibis Reserves 1, Lunesdale United Reserves 0 Monday Division Two; Burneside 2, Greystoke 2; Penrith Rangers 4, Carvetii United 0; Shap United 3, Wetheriggs United Reserves 2.

Division Three: Windermere SC Reserves 2. Appleby Reserves 0.

Division Four: Penrith Academy 0, Endmoor KGR Reserves 1.

Saturday High Sheriff's Cup, semi-final: Ambleside United 0, Wetheriggs United 2.

Division Two: Greystoke 2, Penrith Rangers 4, Division Four: Dent Reserves 1, Victoria SC Reserves 3.

Rosthwaite Arabian/Austinwren Cup, semi-final: Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 4, Staveley United Reserves 1 Thursday Division One: Appleby 0, Lunesdale United 0; Coniston 5, Carleton Rovers 2; Sedbergh Wanderers v Wetheriggs United (postponed).

Division Two: Dent 0, Ibis 9.