PREMIER Division leaders Lancaster and Morecambe beat Windermere Ladies 3-1 in the return to Lancs Central League action after the festive break.

Mere knew it would be a tough start to the New year and so it proved as the home side started strongly and forced Mere to work hard to defend their goal.

But the pressure told and Lancaster and Morecambe scored three times from short corners before Mere reduced the lead with a lovely strike into the bottom corner by players’ player Hannah Clark.

More chances followed as Mere pushed forward but an experienced home goalkeeper dealt with everything that came at her.

Windermere’s Ladies 2s showed promise but still lost 0-5 at Keswick in the Netherwood Development League on Sunday. The Players’ Player was Kitty Carr.

Windermere Men’s 1s lost 1-5 to Marton Furness in a friendly game at Kirkby Stephen to dust off festive break cobwebs. Adam Whitehead scored for Mere. And the Men’s 2s beat South Lakes Men’s 2s 1-0 at Ulverston in another friendly fixture. Gonzalo Lucas scored the goal and busy midfielder Olly Thomas won the man-of-the-match vote.