Westmorland: Trophy double-take (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Westmorland: Trophy double-take

8:57am Friday 8th April 2005 in Sport By Dennis Aris

THE POT-hunting business gets serious at this time of year and the spotlight falls on the Westmorland Benevolent Trophy final between Kendal Town Reserves and Wetheriggs United at Parkside next Wednesday (7.30pm kick-off).

A couple of chances of landing silverware still remain for Town, but final opponents do not come much more difficult than Wetheriggs United, defending league champions four times in a row.

Town are hopeful their footballing ability will serve them well and they will be at full strength apart from goalkeeper Nicky Dent, who injured a foot a fortnight ago and is likely to miss the final, with Kevin Pickering deputising.

By a quirk of the fixtures this Saturday sees Town again hosts to Wetheriggs in the High Sheriff’s Cup semi-final, replacing the league fixture between the sides and making it a doubly dramatic and important week.

Manager Andy Major said: “The lads in the Reserves have done tremendously to get us to where we are and they all deserve to do well.” Appleby are already through to the High Sheriff’s Cup final, the first division cup, after a 1-0 victory over Coniston. But Appleby manager Jock Nugent conceded that his side were fortunate to be going through to the showpiece.

Coniston looked the better team for the main part, but missed chances and hit the woodwork three times.

Appleby’s place in the final was sealed six minutes from the end of full time when Paul Moffet’s looping shot came back off the cross bar and Paul Fleming knocked in the rebound.

Nugent singled out Craig Nelson at the heart of Appleby’s defence as outstanding along with fellow defender Thomas Armstrong.

He added: “The whole Appleby team showed courage and bravery as they kept Coniston out.” Goal difference could be vital in the final analysis if the Division One title race remains as close as current form suggests and leading contenders Kendal County and Wetheriggs both scored four apiece in their respective wins over Ambleside and Appleby this week.

County made their usual flying start against Ambleside, going 2-0 up after about 12 minutes. The first came in the second minute when Craig Walmsley’s accurate free kick from the left found Phil Hodgson unmarked and he headed home.

Ten minutes later Kris Clough got down the left into the box and was brought down, leaving Ollie Wilson to tuck away the penalty.

Ambleside came back with a goal from a free kick hit hard and low in the box which a defender missed and a forward stuck into the corner.

A third County goal lifted any tension, Walmsley fasteneing on to a through ball and firing past the keeper into the corner.

Clough came more and more into the game down the left and his earned his just desserts when he cut in to go one-on-one with the keeper and squeezed his shot underneath his body.

A last-gasp equaliser gave Windermere a share of the point against Ambleside United in 2-2 draw.

Windermere had the best of the first half but only led 1-0 through an Andy Ford strike. The hardy veteran collected a through pass, beat a defender and blasted in from 12 yards.

Ambleside were a much stronger force in the second half and were rewarded with goals from Bryon Stephenson and Dave Ramsey, one a penalty, got them ahead at 2-1.

Sub Zach Clarke did all the hard work for a possible third, but the ball bobbled as he went to shoot and he scuffed the shot. Instead the match went into seven minutes of added on time when an Ambleside defender handled and James Crawford slotted in the penalty for a draw.

Under-strength Sedbergh’s cause was not helped, when they lost two players to injury, and one to a red card inside the first half of their 3-0 defeat to Kendal Town Reserves.

Town were in control for much of the game as Sedbergh’s young side worked hard but created few chances.

Town went ahead with a fine solo strike from Adam Towler and then doubled their advantage after Dan Newby tucked away a disputed penalty for handball. Town added a third in the second half thanks to Stephen Ellwood who dispatched Gary Major’s cross into the bottom corner.

Despite the majority of possession, Town did not have too many chances to add to their tally, whereas Sedbergh were unlucky not to snatch a consolation.

Results: Wednesday: Division Two: Kendal County Res 1, Kendal Celtic 3; Wetheriggs Utd Res 0, Lunesdale Utd 4; Windermere SC Res v Burneside (postponed). Division Three: Ambleside Utd Res v Grasmere (postponed); Appleby Res 2, Sedbergh Wanderers Res 0; Shap v Penrith Rangers Res (postponed).

Tuesday: Division One: Appleby 0, Wetheriggs Utd 5; Keswick 2, Carleton Rovers 2; Windermere SC 2, Ambleside Utd 2.

Monday: Division Three: Appleby Res 2, Greystoke Res 0; Carleton Rovers Res 3, Shap 1.

Saturday: Division One: Ambleside Utd 1, Kendal County 4; Carleton Rovers 6, Penrith Rangers 1; Keswick 5, Staveley United 2; Sedbergh Wanderers 0, Kendal Town Res 3.

High Sheriff’s Cup, second round: Ibis 0, Wetheriggs Utd 4. Semi-final: Appleby 1, Coniston 0 (at Staveley).

Division Two: Kendal County Res 0, Burneside 4; Wetheriggs Utd Res 2, Endmoor KGR 1; Windermere SC Res 4, Ullswater Utd 5. Mason & Freeman Cup, second round: Dent 3, Lunesdale United 6; Kendal Celtic 1, Greystoke 0.

Division Three: Appleby v Braithwaite Res (post); Braithwaite 0, Ibis Res 2; Burneside Res 2, Penrith Rangers Res 1; Carvetii Utd 2, Ambleside Utd Res 0; Northbank Carlisle Res v Sedbergh Wand Res (post); Shap 4, Grasmere 4.

Division Four: Coniston Res 4, Kendal Celtic Res 0; Endmoor KGR Res 0, Burneside Academy 2; Lunesdale Utd Res 2, Carvetii Utd Res 3. Austin Wren Cup, semi-final: Penrith Utd 1, Windermere SC Res 3.

Thursday, March 31: Division Three: Carleton Rovers Res 3, Greystoke Res 1.

Wednesday, March 30: Division Two: Burneside 2, Kendal Celtic 1; Kendal County Res 4, Endmoor KGR 0; Keswick Res 0, Greystoke 0; Wetheriggs Utd Res 3, Kirkoswald 2. Division Three: Appleby Res 3, Shap 2; Ibis Res 1, Sedbergh Wanderers Res 3.

Tuesday, March 29: Division One: Carleton Rovers 0, Wetheriggs Utd 3; Keswick 1, Penrith Rangers 2.