WINDERMERE hosted Barrow in a Cumbria Women's League match on Sunday.

With their opponents able to field full complement of 11 players, contrary to other fixtures earlier in the season, Windermere knew a hard task lay ahead of them.

Windermere..................1 - Barrow..........................9...

For the first 20 minutes, the game plan worked well as Windermere's tight marking denied the Barrow attackers, but they finally broke through to score with a hard shot from the edge of the D.

Jessica McAvoy worked tirelessly to restrict one of Barrow's known goalscorers and Windermere built up several useful attacks from defence, with Emma Houlihan linking play well through Jessica Taylor and Heather Clough to pressurise the visitors.

A penalty corner gave Windermere a chance to equalise, but Dawn Atherton's shot went just wide.

Windermere retained an equal share of possession and, even when Barrow added a second goal, they persevered and worked the ball from Katie Sanders through Helen Telford to Laura Howarth, who slotted in a first-time shot to make it 2-1.

Windermere continued to impress with their teamwork in the second half and Howarth went close with several shots.

Barrow used their strength and experience to force penalty corners and took every chance to increase their tally. Despite the final 9-1 result, the Barrow team agreed they had be put through their paces and made to work for their goals.

Ambleside....................2 - Wigton 2nd..................2 .

AMBLESIDE fielded a number of young players and two returning players, Sarah Martindale and Alison Westworth, and the team's attacking persistence paid off midway through the first half when Marge Munday connected with an accurate cross from left half Helen Barber, giving Ambleside a deserved 1-0 lead.

Despite continual pressure on the Wigton goal, Ambleside were unable to extend their lead to half-time. Strong attacking play from Donna Robinson, Munday and Kelly Williams was halted by the Wigton defence.

Going in search of a second goal, Ambleside were caught out when a speedy Wigton attack broke through and a precision strike levelled the scores.

Ambleside shifted up a gear and regained the lead when a Barber free hit just outside the Wigton D was deflected into the back of the net by Robinson.

Wigton pulled the score back to 2-2 from a penalty corner.

The initial strike was lifted and saved by keeper Caz Cropper. The rebound was controversially struck high in mid-air by the Wigton player and landed in the back of the net.

Ambleside pushed in the last minutes for a winner and were unfortunate when a penalty corner strike in the dying seconds appeared to cross the line but was not awarded.

Winnington Park.........1 - Kirkby Stephen............1...

KIRKBY Stephen first XI travelled to Winnington Park for their third successive away game in North Women's Division Two West.

Kirkby, who have lost their last two league games, were aware that they had to get something from the game.

They took control from the first minute with Andrea Dixon and Lil Prime working hard across the middle.

The experienced Winnington defenders kept the Kirkby strikers at bay and. despite numerous attempts on goal, Kirkby failed to capitalise.

Instead Winnington pushed upfield and forced an unsettled Kirkby defence into conceding a penalty corner.

Unlike Kirkby, the home team took the opportunity and nestled the ball in the goal to go ahead.

Kim Balmer was close to equalising just before half-time, but was denied by the Winnington keeper.

Kirkby came out of the half-time break refreshed and determined, Abby Bland playing exceptionally well in defence to earn the player of the match award.

Kirkby continued to produce impressive hockey and, despite the goal deficit, their patient build-up play was rewarded when runs from strikers Angela Marston and Rachel Faustino opened the defence, creating space for midfielder Melissa Earl to run in behind.

Great vision from Lil Prime saw the run and she sent a perfectly-weighted pass for Earl to fire across the keeper into the far corner for the equaliser.

Kirkby were unlucky not to increase their lead and take the three points, but were content with the draw following their recent results.

Despite lying ninth in the league, only four points separate them from the leaders after five games. They face Didsbury Northern at home this weekend.