Hello, hope everybody is well, since I last did a blog I have been to 2 Westmorland League matches in a week, one was a league match between Kendal County and Keswick and the other was The Junior Cup Final between Kendal United and Penrith Rangers at The Lakeland Radio Stadium.

Here are my thoughts from both those games:

Tuesday 22nd April 2008: Kendal County 4 vs Keswick 3

This match was a classic, County came from 2 goals down scoring 3 goals to get the win.

Keswick opened the scoring in the 1st half an d looked alright, it seemed County were still trying to get going as they themselves suffered a defeat at Ambleside last weekend. I think the fact they were coming off a defeat maybe upset them a bit in this match. Anyhow County did level before half time going in 1-1 at the break.

The 2nd half Keswick went 3-1 ahead, 2 quick fire goals, and it looked all over, however with around 15 minutes to go County got a scrappy goal back making it 3-2 then minutes after that they equalised, and then soon after the game turned on its head making it 4-3 to County.

I felt County showe d great determination and a never say die attitude which shows why they are top of the league. For Keswick it seemed as much as they did everything to win the game, they also did everything to lose the game and if maybe they kept it simple after being 3-1 up they may have won the match..

This was an important win for Kendal and I think probably the decisive moment in the season for them.

Wednesday 23rd April 2008: Kendal United 2 vs Penrith Rangers 3, Junior Cup Final:

Another classic encounter, where it had everything, Kendal United looked good and Penrith looked good especially in the 2nd half.

The game went all the way to extra time at 1-1 and even then there was more drama, with Penriths keeper being substituted due to a clash of heads and then 2 players being sent off for Penrith as well reducing them to 9 men.

But despite Kendal Utd twice taking the lead, Penrith came back and won it 3-2 in extra time.

Overall a narrow victory for Penrith, you couldn’t really have any complaints if Kendal Utd won it as they were also good value.


Overall Summary of the week:

2 good matches which are an advert for Football at Grassroots level, with everything to play for all the teams become more desperate and that makes ll these matches good to watch.

Next matches I am covering:

Saturday 26th April: Kendal County vs Corinthians, Sportsguard Senior Challenge Cup final and either Kendal County (again on Tuesday at home to Appleby or Wednesdays match between Kendal Celtic and Sedbergh Wanderers reserves,

Richard