Kendal United to meet Keswick in Westmorland Benevolent Cup Final after last four success (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal United to meet Keswick in Westmorland Benevolent Cup Final after last four success

9:26am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Football By Scott Kirk, Reporter

KENDAL United progressed to the final of the Westmorland Benevolent Trophy after an impressive 3-0 victory over an Ambleside United Reserves side that contained some of their first-team players.

Ryan Close hit the bar with a header within the first 10 minutes for Ambleside as they started the stronger but Martin Willan gave United the lead after 15 minutes when Kendal scored with a breakaway goal.

Ambleside had the majority of the pressure but Kendal soaked it up and Greg Pierce played a great ball through for Cameron Stewart, who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball beyond a centre half trying to recover the situation to double Kendal’s lead on the half hour.

Ambleside looked the stronger side in the second period, hitting the crossbar at one stage, while Close had a chance which was stopped by the Kendal keeper.

But Matt Wilson played a lovely one-two and struck the ball into the bottom corner to send Kendal into raptures and set up a final against Keswick, who narrowly overcame Penrith Rangers in the other semi-final.

Keswick’s early pressure brought them the first goal when Thwaites’ knockdown from a Hilton cross saw Dowson force the ball home from close range as they led 1-0 at half time.

Keswick had the majority of possession and chances but a Penrith player equalised when he was unmarked at a corner.

With five minutes remaining Atkinson stepped over sub Dan Fletcher’s cross and Andy Frampton picked out the bottom far corner to set up a tie with Kendal United in the final, which will take place on Wednesday, April 3 at 7.30pm at a venue to be confirmed.

League leaders Appleby thumped struggling Staveley United 8-0 in the Bluefin Westmorland League.

Tom Armstrong, an own goal, braces for Jordan Crawford and Liam Dent, Scott Forrester and Roger Thompson were more than enough to provide a morale-boosting success for the division’s pace-setters, who moved six points clear of Keswick having played five games more.

Wetheriggs United kept up the pressure on Keswick and Appleby with a 2-1 triumph at relegation candidates Kendal Celtic.

Celtic started at a great pace and were rewarded in the first 10 minutes when a defensive header was met on the volley outside the box by Robbie Stephens, who smashed the ball back into the top corner to give Kendal the perfect start.

Celtic had a great chance to go two up when Brad Earl failed to convert inside the six-yard box after great work on the right by Stephens.

It proved costly as ‘Riggs levelled just before half time with another stunning strike from outside the box which crashed in off the underside of the bar.

A depleted Celtic picked up injuries in the second half and Wetheriggs made them pay when they scored through a fantastic individual run and well-placed shot to win 2-1.