A below strength Windermere Men’s 1s side went down 0-7 to an impressive Alderley Edge side in a North 2 West clash.

Mere were simply no match for Alderley’s skilful and very lively team, who enjoyed most of the possession and were able to shut the home side out of the game for long periods.

Mere are still mid-table though and have the chance to regroup against lesser opponents at Lymm on Saturday.

Windermere Men’s 2s had better luck, completing a winning double over local rivals Kirkby Lonsdale 2s with a deserved 5-2 NW League 4NN home victory.

Right-mid John Fairman opened the scoring with a fine run and shot then Mere’s youthful midfield trio of Orran Brownell, man-of-the-match Jack Spiby and skipper Tom Wright combined for first Pierce Harris to score and then Elliot Kirby to make it 3-0.

A penalty corner strike just before half-time kept Kirkby’s hopes alive but Steve Heyns outrageously lobbed the Kirkby keeper soon after the restart.

Then a stunning volley by Harris for Mere’s fifth put the lid on any revival hopes for the visitors who did manage a late consolation.

Kendal Ladies battled hard but suffered a 5-2 home defeat by North One leaders Harrogate.

Windermere Ladies 1s came from behind to twice lead their Lancs Central Women’s Premier fixture but still had to settle for a 4-4 draw away to bottom side Pendle 3s.

Pendle took the lead with their first attack then doubled that advantage with a penalty stroke for a foot on the line but Kitty Brownell rounded the Pendle defence to pull one back just before half-time.

Two quick-fire goals put Mere ahead early in the second half, Raine Wickens reaching the backline and cutting the ball back for Zoe Birkett to finish and Eilis Lightfoot also getting behind Pendle’s rearguard to score.

However, another Pendle breakaway and set play strike levelled the score again and set the stage for a thrilling finish.

With five minutes remaining, Mere won a penalty corner and a well worked interplay between skipper Abbey Carroll and Kitty Carr was netted by Carr for what looked like the winner.

But with just two minutes to go Pendle won a penalty corner for obstruction and though Maisie Prescott blocked the first strike, they slotted home the rebound to share the spoils.

A resounding 7-0 victory by Ambleside Ladies Hockey Club saw them ease past Wigton Seconds in the first home game of 2020.

Ambleside were in dominant form against a youthful but willing Wigton team and a quick attacking move saw Polly Holden feed the ball into Flora Belshaw who scored into the bottom left hand corner.

Further goals followed soon after with Maddie Townson powering the ball past the keeper, while Donna Robinson and Jess Young were also on target as Ambleside were 4-0 up at the break.

Ambleside dominated the second half and Emma Robinson scored the fifth goal with a composed finish from within the D, then further strikes by Townson and Robinson completed the scoring.