[I]n the James Cropper Westmorland League, Keswick kicked off their Division One season with a 0-1 win away in a midweek fixture at Kirkoswald. The Old Showfield is never easy for a visit, and Kirkoswald look like a strong team this year, and the home side were unlucky not to get anything from the game, but the points went to Keswick with the only goal from Alfie West.
Wetheriggs United had their first win of the season, triumphing 3-1 at home to local rivals Penrith Reserves midweek, leaving Penrith with nothing to show from their first two games. Wetheriggs secured the win (and three points) with goals from Ben Pool, Kie Wallace and Alex Johnson. Penrith’s reply came from Connor Shields on a poor night for Penrith, with their first team losing by the same margin to Whitley Bay in the the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
Appleby, who won the Westmorland High Sheriff’s Cup and Benevolent Trophy last year, kicked off their season with a 3-0 over Sedbergh Wanderers with a man of the match performance from new signing Ben Jackson, and goals from Jordan Crawford, Daniel Robinson and a screamer from Dan Robinson enough to take all three points from the match refereed by Simon Vogt.
Ibis and Kendal County Reserves fought it out for 1-1 draw, with Cory Robinson netting for Ibis and Curtis Nicholson for Kendal, but it’s newly promoted Endmoor KGR who went top of the table with two wins out of two, beating Ambleside United 3-1 midweek, with goals from Jordan Kenny, Matt Wilson and an Ambleside own goal more than enough to get the new boys off to a flying start..
On Saturday, the two pre-season favourites for the title, Keswick and Appleby, were up against each other at Fitz Park and each with a win under their belts already. It was Keswick who took the points with a 3-1 scoreline and a convincing win, with goals from Karl Southern, Declan Robinson and Sam Reilly. appleby’s goal was from Bobby Atkinson.
Kirkoswald had their second home match, this one against Windermere SC, and claimed their first win of the season with a 5-1 victory. Penrith Reserves finally picked up some points with an emphatic 5-1 win over Kendal County Reserves at Frenchfield. The visitors lone goal was from Jordan Matias. Sedbergh Wanderers were back in action against  Ambleside United at Havera Park, but lost this one 1-3, giving Ambleside their first points of the season. And finally Wetheriggs United faced Shap at Gilwilly Recreation Ground on Saturday and won this 3-0, to go into joint top position with Keswick and Endmoor, with the other newly promoted team, Shap, now bottom of the table. Keswick and Wetheriggs meet this Tuesday.
In the Division Two midweek matches, Greystoke lost 2-3 to Carleton Banks at Greystoke Recreational Ground with Mark Robson in charge of the whistle. Two goals from Ryan Smith saw Carleton Banks two goals up at half time and Nathan Moorhead then made it three. Two late goals from Greystoke put pressure on the visitors, but solid defending meant the Soccermoos took away all three points.
Ullswater United had an impressive 5-1 win over Windermere SC Reserves, and Dent had a solid 3-1 away win over Kendal United Reserves. Keswick Reserves had a great start to their season with a 4-0 victory against  last year’s Division Three champions Appleby Reserves. This game wasn’t as one sided as the scoreline might suggest, and Appleby had some good periods in the game, but just couldn’t convert any of their chances into goals. Keswick’s Dave Gaskell and Dan Fletcher scored for the home side, and two late goals from Declan Robinson sealed the win. David Dalton refereed this match.
On Saturday, the Division’s two Carlisle based teams met, with Eden Thistle at home to AFC Carlisle at Sheepmount. In a close match, Eden Thistle grabbed the points with a 3-2 win. Staveley United  lost 1-3 at home to Appleby Reserves, Greystoke pulled off a 4-3 win over Kendal United Reserves with the home side’s goals from Peile, Ivinson and a brace from Dixon, and Dent edged a 5-4 win over Ullswater United.  Making in two wins out of two, Carleton Banks beat Braithwaite 5-3 at Frenchfield  to go joint top of the Division with Eden Thistle and Dent.
In Division Three, the midweek fixtures saw Endmoor KGR Reserves beat  Ambleside Utd Reserves 3-2 to make it two wins from two with two goals for KGR’s Adam Soulby. In a high scoring midweek scoreline, Ibis Reserves beat Burneside 5-4. The Ibis goals came from a Chris Ellwood brace, Joel Nicholson, Dan Poss and Josh Phizacklea. Burneside’s goals were from Alex Chirwa, Brian O’Neill, Kevin Pickering and Tyler Park.
After their opening win, Kirkby Stephen stalled, losing 2-3 at home to Penrith Academy, whose goals came from a Taryn Reay brace and Danny Burras. Kirkoswald Reserves, who impressed pre-season, had a comfy 5-2 win over Penrith Royal, with the home sides’ goals from Jimmy Stobart (2), Ryan Bell (2) and Ben Allen, and Sedbergh Wanderers Res had close 3-2 win over Langwathby Utd. Finally on Friday,  Burneside lost 0-2 to Ambleside United Reserves
On Saturday, Endmoor KGR Reserves went top of the table after winning their match against Kirkoswald Reserves with a 5-1 scoreline. Kirkoswald’s only goal was from Ryan Bell  Ibis Reserves had a comfy 6-0 win over Penrith Saints, and Penrith Royal beat Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 4-1. Penrith Town are now propping up the table after losing 2-4 to Kirkby Stephen at home, and Lunesdale United’s match against Penrith Academy was postponed after Academy knew midweek that they couldn’t raise a team.