[I]n the match of the day, Wetheriggs United and Shap battled it out to a 4-4 stalemate in normal time in the second round of the Westmorland FA Senior Challenge Cup, with Shap coming back from 2-0 down in the first half. In extra time the winner came for Shap to make it 5-4. The Shap goals came from a Luke Fraser hat trick and two from Jordan Palmer, and Wetheriggs’ four came fromĀ a Lewis Windle brace, Alex Johnson and Joe Henderson.
In another classic second round tie, Windermere SC showed why they are a difficult team to beat this year as they pushed Westmorland League leaders Keswick all the way. It ended 4-2 to Keswick but it wasn’t easy. Stevie Hindmarch opening the scoring for Keswick with an excellent headed goal from a Declan Robinson cross after two minutes, but Sam Harrison equalised for Windermere ten minutes after that.
Keswick then applied the pressure, but it took another thirty minutes before Hindmarch spotted the Windermere goalie off his line and produced an exquisite lob to make it 2-1.
Andy Rigg almost made it three just three minutes later, but his shot was headed off the line, and then Richard Bannister shot wide, as Keswick missed more chances. But this wasn’t all one way and Keswick ‘keeper John Philips had to pull of two excellent saves, and Keswick went into half time with just a one goal lead.
Ten minutes into the second half, an curling Robinson cross was somehow bundled over the line by the Windermere defence for an own goal (Robinson may claim it!) and Keswick began to dominate, with both Sam Reilly and Alfie West moving up from defence to launch attacks.
On 70 minutes Richard Bannister made it 4-1 to Keswick, and Keswick brought on Harry Routledge and Kevin Frampton for Charlie Andrews and Robinson, and Routledge immediately launched an attack and was unlucky to hit the post with no one in place to finish off from the rebound, and a minute after that Bannister was unmarked, but was just a yard short of another cross.
But Windermere were not going to give up, and with five minute to go sloppy defending gave Harrison and Windermere their second from a shot right in front of the Keswick goal, and with two minutes to go a foul in the box from the otherwise excellent Lewis Cumber earned him a yellow card and Winderemere an penalty, which sailed over the bar and that was it. A hard fought win for Keswick.
In other Westmorland Senior Cup ties, Greystoke lost out by just the one goal in a very close 0-1 defeat by Castletown United, with the goal a solo effort from Ryan Gate, and Castletown were saved extra time by some excellent goal keeping from veteran Nigel McCombie. Kirkby Stephen were punching well above their weight, but eventually lost out 1-3 to Milnthorpe Corinthians, despite taking the lead on 22 minutes, and holding Corinthians to 1-1 at half time.
Appleby won out 2-1 over local rivals Kirkoswald in another tight game, with the Appleby goals from David Nugent and Ben Jackson, and Westmorland Division Three side Langwathby United went down 2-7 at home to Division One’s Ambleside United. Finally Penrith Reserves lost out 1-4 to Kendal County.
Endmoor KGR make up the final place in the last eight, having won last week against Coniston.Ā In the first round of the Westmorland FA Junior Cup, Westmorland Third Division Endmoor KGR Reserves lost out 1-5 at home to the in form DentĀ who are currently on top of Division Two.
In the James Cropper Westmorland League, there was just one Division One match, and Kendal County Reserves overcame their recent run of terrible form, beating Sedbergh Wanderers 3-0. In Division Two Carleton Banks had a useful 7-2 win over Eden Thistle to stay second in the table, and Ullswater United’s close 2-3 defeat at home by Keswick Reserves leaves Keswick in third place, thanks to a brace from Adam Beaty. Windermere SC Reserves had a good 5-2 win over Appleby Reserves.
In Division Three, both of the top two team were without games. Kirkby Stephen were in cup action, and the match between Ibis Reserves and Lunesdale United was postponed as a mark of respect on the sudden passing of Ibis’s Neil Wake. A sad day, and our condolences to Neil’s family and friends.
Ambleside United Reserves lost out 1-4 to Kirkoswald Reserves, who are now third in the table, just one point above Burneside who wonĀ 3-2 away at Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves. In the first of two local derbys, Penrith Royal lost out 1-3 to Penrith AFC Academy.
Academy got back to their winning ways with a good start andĀ Greg Hall scored from 20 yards withĀ just 10 minutes on the clock. – but Royal equalised just 8 minutes later, and it was game on. Just before half time Academy got a second from Reay, and in the second half Euan Chandler got his first goal for the club with a long range effort to make it a 1-3 win.
Finally in Division Three, Penrith Town lost out again, this time 0-3 Penrith Saints who will be delighted with the win after two heavy defeats in the preceding weeks, with Saints moving up into ninth place in the table with Academy into eighth.
In the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League, there was one Conway Cup match, and Pirelli lost out 2-3 to Wigton Harriers. Pirelli’s goals came from a Aaron Roberts brace, and Harriers winning three were from Jonny Studholme, Lee Coulthard and a Pirelli own goal.
In the Premier Division, Aspatria are now top of the table after a 3-1 win over Netherhall. Aspatria’s goals came from Andrew Trestinau (2) and Richard ‘Roo’ Hudson, and Darren Rule got the goal for the visitors. Defending champions Workington Athletic moved into third place with three games in hand with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Carlisle City. A Marc Messenger brace and goals from Greg Quale, Ash Kelly, Greg Armstrong and Leo Holliday did the damage.
In Division One of the Cumberland County League, Bransty Ranger lost top spot after a 1-1 draw with Crown Newlaithes. Newlaithes’ goal was from Lewis Gardener, and Rangers from Adam Smith. Whitehaven Amateurs 1-10 defeat by Gosforth gave Gosforth the top spot, thanks to four goals from Greg Bedford, two from Rhys Singleton, and one each for Jon Dunn, Kieran Fraser and Dan Shaw, along with a Whitehaven own goal.
And in the twice postponed Cumberland Cup second round tie,Ā Whitehaven Miners Social lost to Braithwaite 1-3, earning Braithwaite a tie with Cleator Moor Celtic in the next round.