Ambleside beat Keswick in Westmorland invitational final (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Ambleside beat Keswick in Westmorland invitational final

8:42pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

SENIOR Challenge Cup winners Ambleside United beat Westmorland League champions Keswick 3-1 in the Westmorland County Invitation Trophy Final at Parkside Road on Wednesday night.

The first half saw Ambleside having more of the play but Keswick defended well.

However just as Keswick were getting into the game, Ambleside took the lead.

The first goal arrived after 20 minutes when a Maison McGeechan corner fell to Aaron Helliwell at the back post, and his firmly hit shot found the back of the net after a deflection off Dowson.

The forward trio of Shaun Gardner, McGeechan and Zach Clark were causing problems for the Keswick defence and following good interplay Clark was fouled in the box. McGeechan placed the penalty into the corner of the net for a 2-0 lead after 35 minutes.

It took good saves by the Keswick keeper to prevent Ambleside going further ahead but the second half was more evenly contested.

Rigg and Rowley were getting time on the ball and getting the team forward into better positions.

Little had a great chance to pull a goal back as he was sent clear on goal but his attempted chip over the keeper was to high and sailed over the bar.

But Keswick got what they deserved when Little broke the offside trap, raced around the advancing keeper and slotted the ball in the back of the net to reduce their arreas.

But within two minutes Ambleside regained their two-goal advantage.

A pin-point free kick from Aaron Helliwell reached McGeechan, and his well-placed header at the far post gave the Keswick keeper no chance.

Keswick still looked like they could score and when the Ambleside keeper came for a cross he completely misjudged the flight and dropped the ball has he landed. It fell to Little who directed the ball goalwards but saw it agonisingly hit the bar.

This could have made it an interesting last 10 minutes but it ended 3-1 to Ambleside.