THE NIGHTMARE was relived for Conistons footballers on Saturday when for the second year running they saw Wetheriggs United deny them the First Division championship of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League.

Unlike 12 months ago, when the Shepherd's Bridge men waited and watched as Wetheriggs pip them by mere goal difference, fate decreed that the title's destination would hinge on Saturday's league fixture between the sides, which in effect became the league "cup final".

Long-time leaders Coniston, who last won the championship 12 years ago, could not stem their recent run of poor form, however, and went down 3-0, as the Penrith-based visitors clinched their fourth successive league title with two goals from Martin Currie and a third from Dan Broadley. Currie got the merest glancing header from a Mattie Hutton free-kick to put Wetheriggs ahead and the turning-point came when keeper Nigel McCombie pushed over the bar a point-blank shot which would have levelled the scores.

Instead Currie broke through the home defence in the second half to squeeze in a second goal and Broadley captailised on a defensive mistake to hammer home the third.

It capped a memorable first season in charge for Wetheriggs manager Andrew Ridley, his assistant Bob Norman and coach Paul Renwick.

Wetheriggs secretary David Bird said: "It looked like everything was going against us leading up to the last few weeks of the season when we suffered three draws on the trot, giving Coniston the advantage.

"But then it was deja-vu as Coniston lost a couple and this result made it three defeats in a row for them as we produced a purposeful performance to take the title."

Defeat dropped Coniston to third in the final table as Kendal County beat Appleby 1-0 in their final match to snatch second place.

Wetheriggs made it a double celebration when the Reserves edged out Burneside 3-2 in the Division Two Mason & Freman Cup final.

Last night (Thursday) Wetheriggs were going for a league and cup double when they met Appleby in the final of the High Sheriff's Cup, at Penrith.

Results: Wednesday: Division 4: Northbank Carlisle Reserves 4, Kendal Celtic Reseves 0; Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 3, Penrith Academy 5.

Monday: Division 2: Mason & Freeman Cup final: Burneside 2, Wetheriggs United Reserves 3.

Saturday: Division 1: Coniston 0, Wetheriggs United 3; Penrith Reserves 1, Windermere SC 0; Staveley United 1, Appleby 2. Division 2: Dent 1, Penrith Rangers 2; Greystoke 5, Keswick Reserves 1. Division Four: Northbank Carlisle Reserves 8, Dent Reserves 0.

Friday: Division 4: Rosthwaite Arabian/ Austin Wren Cup final: Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 1, Penrith Academy 3. Division 1: Kendal County 1, Appleby 0; Wetheriggs United 9, Victoria SC 1, Division 4: Ibis Reserves 4, Lunesdale United Reserves 1.