Westmorland: County hit five (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Westmorland: County hit five

8:29am Friday 10th December 2004 in Sport By Dennis Aris

LEADERS Kendal County cruised to a 5-0 away win at Carleton Rovers, banging in three first half goals and two in the second period to maintain their lead at the top of the Westmorland League First Division.

Early on Craig Walmsley's fiercely struck shot hit the post and Ryan Wallis was on hand to net the rebound.

Next a cross from the left was met by Lee Blamire at the far post for number two, then Phillip Hodgon rose above the defence to head in from a corner.

The fourth goal was a fine individual effort, Wallis beating three defenders then rounding the keeper to slot the ball into the net.

Finally Lee Blamire produced a mirror image to his first goal, this time the cross coming in from the right.

Reigning champions Wetheriggs United, four points behind County but with two games in hand, showed that they will not give up their title lightly with a 2-0 victory over third-placed Kendal Town Reserves.

Reserve held them comfortably for the first 15 minutes, then a mistake on the edge of the box presented Wetheriggs with an easy chance, which they gladly took.

The score remained 1-0 until the second half although Wetheriggs were much the better side for most of that time.

In the second period Reserves were caught again as Stevie Cross tried to dribble the ball out of the penalty area, no easy task on the Wetheriggs pitch with its notoriously long grass. He was robbed and Wetheriggs sealed the match with their second goal.

Kendal manager Andy Major said: "We put them under the cosh a bit for the last 20 minutes, but I have to say it was often a case of men against boys and we have got to pull their socks up a bit.

"I still think we can beat them at home, however, as their pitch doesn't help our young lads and our style of football."

Coniston grabbed a last minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Staveley where all five goals came in the second half.

Glen Todd struck from just outside the box and David Copper added another from a through ball to give Coniston a 2-0 lead, but they nearly let the game slip as Staveley fought back to 2-2.

In the final minute Todd latched on to a through ball and rounded the onrushing keeper.

Sedbergh re-discovered their winning touch after a recent dip in form, when they played Penrith Rangers. With a number of usual first team squad missing, Sedbergh recalled Ivan Moffat and Elliott Oxley, who were both excellent in the 3-1 win.

They created numerous chances in the first half, but it was an unfortunate own goal that gave them the lead, as a defender put a Dave Metcalfe corner into his own net.

Metcalfe then created the second with a 50 yard pin-point ball to Craig Moffat, who made it 2-0 with a brilliant finish.

In the second half Penrith got back in the game when slack marking left a defender free to prod in. For the rest of the half Sedbergh had most of the play and killed the game off with a third goal, Clyde Harris scoring from the penalty spot.

Unfit pitches caused the postponement of the matches between Ambleside and Windermere and Ibis and Appleby.

Greystoke opened up a five-point lead at the top of Division Two after a 2-1 away win at Windermere SC Reserves In the chasing pack Lunesdale United advanced their cause with a 3-1 victory over Dent.

Lunesdale had the better first half and probably deserved more than the 1-0 interval lead, which came when Darren Potter turned in a left wing free-kick at the near post.

Dent equalised when former Lunesdale striker Paul Boustead, who had been tightly marked from the start, avoided several tackles and slid the ball home.

Lunesdale keeper Eric Capstick made a good sprawling save to prevent Dent scoring a second and it was the home side who went ahead when a flowing move from their own penalty area saw Johnny Lowis' deep cross headed in by Barry Wear.

A reckless tackle then handed Lunesdale a penalty from which Lowis gave ex-Lunesdale keeper Gary Bowman no chance.

Results: Division One: Ambleside United v Windermere SC (postponed); Carleton Rovers 0, Kendal County 5; Coniston 3, Staveley United 2; Ibis v Appleby (postponed); Sedbergh Wanderers 3, Penrith Rangers 1; Wetheriggs United 2, Kendal Town Reserves 0.

Division Two: Kendal Celtic v Burneside (postponed); Kendal County Reserves 1, Ullswater United 0; Keswick Reserves 1, Kirkoswald 6; Lunesdale United 3, Dent 1; Windermere SC Reserves 1, Greystoke 2.

Division Three: Carvetii United 3, Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 2.

Peter Daws Memorial Shield, first round: Appleby Reserves 1, Shap 0; Braithwaite 1, Greystoke Reserves 0; Burneside Reserves 3, Carleton Rovers Reserves 3 (Carleton Rovers won 4-2 on penalties); Northbank Carlisle Reserves 6, Grasmere 0; Penrith Rangers Reserves 2, Ibis Reserves 5.

Division Four: Dent Reserves 2, Carvetii United Reserves 0; Kendal Celtic Reserves 4, Coniston Reserves 4; Penrith United 7, Endmoor KGR Reserves 0; Staveley United Reserves 7, Shap Reserves 0; Wetheriggs Utd A 8, Windermere SC A 0.

Westmorland FA Sunday Cup, first round: Idols 1, Bridge Hotel 5.