Staveley get one over on relegation rivals Sedbergh as Kendal United continue good form (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Staveley get one over on relegation rivals Sedbergh as Kendal United continue good form

1:27pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in Football By Scott Kirk, Reporter

STAVELEY United edged a crucial relegation battle to move up to eighth in the Bluefin Insurance Westmorland Football League with a 3-2 win over bottom club Sedbergh Wanderers.

The result means that five teams are separated by just four points between seventh and second from bottom in the table, with the Wanderers slightly detached at the bottom on four points, six adrift of safety.

But it could have been very different for Sedbergh after they took the lead with the game just five minutes old through Elliot Oxley.

The basement side had a player sent off midway through the first half, and Staveley capitalised via a Callum Thwaites free kick to make it 1-1 at half time.

Jamie Stott put United ahead five minutes into the second half but the Wanderers refused to back down and with 20 minutes remaining Graham Sowerby equalised.

Honours looked like they may be shared until with five minutes left Callum Thwaites scored after striking from the edge of the box following a short cormer with brother Adam to give his side a massive three points.

Wetheriggs United moved up to second in the league when they prevailed in an entertaining 5-3 success over relegation candidates Lunesdale United.

Kendal United continued their good form with a 3-1 win at Penrith Rangers. David Crierie put Kendal 1-0 up when he dispatched a penalty after Martin Willan was fouled in the box a quarter of an hour into the tie.

Cameron Stewart struck a delectable lob over the Penrith keeper 15 minutes later when one-on-one with him to double United’s advantage but Rangers pulled one back thanks to Jack Barwick.

But sub Nick Crearie, 16, played a great ball for Stewart across the box on the 75th minute to wrap up the points for Kendal.

Appleby and Keswick set up a mouth-watering High Sheriff’s Cup final with 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Kirkoswald and Burneside respectively.

John Coward and a Jordan Crawford brace secured the success for the Eden side, while Keswick emerged triumphant through Daniel Fletcher and Andrew Frampton goals.