CONISTON are the new leaders of the First Division.

A 4-0 victory over struggling Burneside boosted them three points clear of Wetheriggs, who were without a game on Saturday.

Coniston could have scored twice as many in a very one sided game, yet it was not until midway through the first half that they went ahead when Glen Todd headed home from close range following a good cross by Tim Fletcher.

Midway through the second half David Cooper gave his side a 2-0 lead when he hammered in a good shot from an acute angle.

Ten minutes from the end Tim Fletcher's through ball put Peter Blair in for Coniston's third and in the final minute Stuart Walker made it 4-0 with a shot from two yards.

Windermere United were full of praise for Lunesdale United's goalkeeper Eric Captstick who made a string of good saves despite his side's

2-0 defeat.

Soon after the start he saved well from an Andy Ford shot then tipped over an effort by Lee Jeynes.

After 25 minutes a 20-yard shot by Justin Kidd was also well saved then Ford provided a quality pass for Nicky Lewthwaite to score from six yards.

Midway through the second half Graham Maher picked up the ball near the halfway line, took the ball down the wing and cross for Ford to slam a volley into the net.

For once Victoria SC got the result their good football deserved, with a 4-0 victory over Ambleside, which boosts the First Division newcomers to a comfortable mid-table position.

Ambleside, struggling to find a team, were quickly put under pressure and in the 16th minute a free-kick was headed in by Phil Graham for the opening goal.

On the half-hour Vics doubled their advantage when utility player Chris Ellwood scrambled the ball in from close range.

The second half saw Vics effectively put the game beyond Ambleside when a cross from Ellwood dropped neatly at Graham's feet and he netted comfortably.

Despite the wet and slippery conditions both sides tried to constructive passing football in a game played in good spirits.

Vics final goal came when Lee Garnett put Ellwood through for a simple one-on-one with the keeper.

A goalkeeping exhibition par excellence was the highlight of Staveley United's match with Sedbergh Wanderers with Tim Wood and Mel Cragg respectively outdoing each other with the heroics.

Sedbergh emerged 1-0 winners after the evenly-balanced sides had lost two players apiece to injuries, not through anything malicious but as a result of the fully- committed display on the part of all concerned.

Sedbergh had the better of the first-half exchanges when Wood made a string of saves to keep Andy Todd, Ben Smith and Trevor Winn at bay.

Staveley came into the argument into the second half and only good defending and exceptional saves from Cragg kept them in contention.

Cragg even saved a penalty awarded when Glen Bowman brought down the striker.

Rob Downey hit a good, low shot but Cragg tipped it around the post.

After 70 minutes Smith crossed to Ivan Moffat who headed the ball from the

18-yard line to the back post, beyond Wood' s full-length stretch where Andy Todd was on hand to fire home the vital goal.

Staveley came back all guns firing but Cragg held firm.

Appleby emerged 2-0 winners over Kendal County but considered themselves a bit fortunate after coming under pressure for long spells.

Appleby got off to a flying start after five mintues when Ian's Parkin's cross from the left wing to the far post deceived County keeper Nick Dent and Paul Moffet slid in for the opening goal.

When Appleby's Ben Greenhow was put through he was brought down by Dent and a debateable penalty was awarded A rare occurance happened when Ian Parkin blazed the spot-kick over the bar - the first time anyone could remember him missing a penalty in at least the past four seasons.

County put the home side under the cosh and it took two fines saves from Appleby keeper Paul Crawford to prevent them from going behind.

He denied a header and then produced a superlative effort to go full length and palm over a half-volley.

County had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Mark Jackson appeared to foul the right winger and Appleby rubbed it in in the last five minutes when Moffet's 25-yard effort took a wicket bounce off the wet surface, beating Dent and trickling over the line for the second goal.

Kendal Town Reserves tightened their grip on Division Two, beating Appleby Reserves 8-0.

Goalscorers were Kevin Pickering (2), Chris Hayton (2), Toby Hodgkinson (2), Gareth Hayton and Mark Thompson.

With their main rivals Penrith Reserves crashing to a surprising 2-0 defeat at Greystoke, Kendal now lead them by six points, although Penrith have a game in hand.

Endmoor KGR won 2-1 against Kendal County Res.

A goal down after only five seconds David Metcalfe pulled it back to 1-1 curling a 30-yard shot into the bottom corner.

He then scored again to make it 2-1 at half time.

In the second half County missed a penalty and hit the post.