[O]n Tuesday night Pirelli FC were confirmed as the new Westmorland League Division One champions after beating Kendal County Reserves 1-5 at Kendal, and the Champions still have two matches remaining. One the night the Pirelli goals were from Dean Mallinson, Jordan Irving, Jordan Hodgson, Matty Story and Alan Hodgson.
At the start of the week Endmoor KGR looked poised to win Division Two,and this continued after a 2-1 victory over Castletown United gave them top spot, two points clear of second placed Shap, and with a game in hand. The KGR goals were from Connor Crawshaw-Collins and Matthew Wilson and Castletown’s from Ewan Willacy, with Castletown down to nine men at the end of the game after two red cards. Elsewhere in Division Two, Greystoke lost 0-3 to Braithwaite, and BFC moved back above local rivals Keswick Reserves with the three points after goals from skipper Sam Robinson and two from Jack Farley. Kendal Utd Reserves had a 2-1 win at home over Carleton Banks and now have a firm hold on third spot, and Windermere SC Reserves lost 1-2 to Eden Thistle, pushing Thistle back above Castletown and into fourth.
In Division Three Ambleside United Club Reserves had a 6-2 home win over Penrith Town, and Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves edged past Penrith Royal 3-2 with a brace Lewis Goad and one from Ben Thompson for the Wanderers. It would have been easier if Daniel Mason hadn’t missed a missed a penalty for the home side!
On Wednesday night in Division One of the Westmorland League, fourth placed Windermere SC put paid to Appleby’s chances of the runners up spot with a 1-0 home win, with Mighty Mere’s goal from Steve Brown, and that result confirmed the final four top of the table positions: Pirelli as champions, Keswick as runners up, Appleby in third and Windermere in fourth. There was just one other match in Division Three, and Endmoor KGR Reserves triumphed 5-2 over Lunesdale Utd to move into fifth spot.
Thursday evening saw Divisions Two and Three decided with the top two in the second tier, Shap and Endmoor, both in action. Shap won, and won well, netting seven in a 7-1 win against Braithwaite but the win wasnt enough and only confirmed Shap in second place as Endmoor KGR won 5-0 at home to Windermere SC Football Club Reserves and its Endmoor who are champions with 66 points, with Shap runners on 64 points. Endmoor still have a game in hand and play Wetheriggs United Reserves in their final match. Endmoor’s championship winning five came from Nathan Dixon (2), Jordan Kenny, Paul Whitaker and Stefan Otway.
Keswick Football Club Reserves had a comfortable 6-0 won over Staveley Utd. Keswick were 1-0 up at half time from a Dave Gaskell strike from the edge of the penalty area on 40 minutes, and then Keswick cruised to victory in the second half with another second half goal for Gaskell, one from Mike Graham, and a Adam Gaskell hat trick putting the boys in red and black back into ninth spot above Braithwiate. Langwathby United narrowly lost 1-2 at home to Kendal Utd Reserves, leaving Langwathby bottom of the Division Two table, and Kendal third take third spot.
In Division Three, Appleby Reserves were confirmed as champions with a 2-1 win over Ambleside United Reserves at Frenchfield, with Appleby’s goals from Neil Dean and Andrew Butterworth. Second placed AFC Carlisle still have had one game to play but cannot now catch Applebty’s total of 66 points. Ambleside Town take third place in the table. In the final match Sedbergh Wanderers Football Club Res won 2-1 over Penrith AFC Academy, with Sedbergh in fifth spot and Academy in eleventh.
With the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League Premier Division already decided with Workington Athletic crowned champions, there were three midweek games in Division One, and the results left the battle for top spot wide open between Cleator Moor Celtic and Frizington Whitestar. Whitestar could only manage a 1-1 draw with Windscale at home, and Cleator Moor won out 4-1 over third placed Gosforth, so the teams are level on points (37) with both having played 15 games. Whitestar are on top, but only on goal difference. The two teams play each other in the final match of the season on May 10th at Bishops Park in Frizington in a battle that will decide the championship. In the other Division One match, Bransty Rangers drew 1-1 with Hunday Manor Divisonal Cup winners Borough, with veteran Ryan Cornish bagging another goal for Rangers, and Andrew Marshallsea scoringfor Borough. Borough will finish fourth and Bransty sixth.
On Wednesday in was the Cumberland FA County Cup final between Penrith AFC and Workington Reds. A Martyn Coleman free kick opened the scoring for the Bonny Blues in the first half, but Scott Allison equalised for the Reds in the second half and it was 1-1 at Full Time. It was heartbreak for Penrith as Dave Symington scored in the 118th minute to win the Cup 2-1 for Workington.