[H]eavy overnight rain played havoc with the James Cropper Westmorland League fixture list in the South of the county, along with road closures and localised flooding, with Endmoor KGR’s home match with Windermere SC and League leaders Keswick’s visit to Ibis both off in Division One.
Windermere SC Reserves’ home game against AFC Carlisle was another casualty in Division Two, and there were waterlogged pitches at Lunesdale United, Ambleside United and Sedbergh Wanderers in Division Three.
But in the North of the County it was a beautiful afternoon, and the sun shone for Appleby at Chapel Street, who put ten past Kendal County Reserves with the goals coming from a Jordan Crawford hat trick, a brace for John Coward and one each from Charlie Addison, Antony Lund, Ben Jackson, Jack Overs and an own goal, with second placed Appleby keeping the pressure on table toppers Keswick with a dominant display, now just four points behind with a game in hand.
Kirkoswald had a good 3-2 win over Penrith Reserves at the Old Show Field, although the home side were 0-2 down at half time against a depleted Penrith squad whose first half goals were both from Hayden Wilson. But Kirkoswald overcame the deficit with a fantastic second half performance, with two goals from Niall Renwick and one from Lewis Renvoize securing the three points and third place in the table.
Wetheriggs United were back on form with a 3-2 win over Sedbergh Wanderers at Gilwilly Rec, with the home side’s goals from Alex Johnson (2) and Joe Henderson. Wetheriggs are now fourth in table above Endmoor KGR, whose match was postponed.
Carleton Banks stay top of Westmorland League Division Two with a comfortable 4-0 win over Kendal United Reserves, two points clear and with two games in hand over second placed Dent, who put eight past Greystoke for a resounding away win. With Keswick Reserves in third, Castletown United remain undefeated and fourth with a 6-3 win over Ullswater United, with the Castletown goals from Harry Land, Ewan Willacy, Dylan Cowperthwaite, and another hat trick for Ryan Gate.
Braithwaite climbed the table and out of the relegation zone in Division Two with a close 3-2 win over Appleby Reserves at Braithwaite. It was Appleby who took the lead with Josh Bellas header from a corner kick before Braithwaite then equalised with a Adam Palmer header (also from a corner). Appleby then took the lead again with a Andrew Little screamer to go into half time 1-2 up. In the second half, two almost identical Arran Graham goals from long balls secured the win and the points for Braithwate, who are now tenth. Appleby sink to twelfth.
In Westmorland League Division Three. Kirkoswald Reserves put five past Penrith Town for a good away win, but the score is a little unfair to Penrith, who went ahead in the first half and more than held their own for much of the game, but went down 2-5 with Kirkoswald’s Ryan Bell netting a hat trick and Adam Land and Tim Raine each grabbing a goal and the three points.
Endmoor KGR Reserves Reserves won 2-3 away against Penrith Academy at Frenchfield in a very close battle, with Chris Bell, Bradley Thompson and Luke Ireland with the goals for Endmoor, and Academy’s two were from the excellent Brendan Maddison (with his 9th goal in 6 games) and debutant Greg Hall scoring his first goal for Academy.
Kirkoswald go third and Endmoor fourth with Academy seventh. In the only other surviving match, Burneside go fifth after a 2-0 home win over Penrith Saints at Hollins Lane. League leaders Ibis’ game was postponed, but they stay top.
There were two first round matches in the Westmorland FA Senior Challenge Cup, and in what must be the upset of the day, Westmorland Division Three side Kirkby Stephen went to former Division One title contenders Kendal United, who now play in the West Lancashire League, and came away with a cup win, putting two past the home side for a 0-2 victory.
Kirkby got the lead after Dan Robinson broke up play and played in Andy Lockhart who slotted the ball clinically through the keepers legs at the near post for 1-0. Kendal came into the game and battled well up to the half time whistle but Kirkby were their equals and a well organised defence thwarted the home side.
The win was sealed in the second half when a deflected Lockhart shot set up Craig Carruthers to put Kirkby 2-0 up. Despite a red card for the visitors with 20 mins to go, Kirkby Stephen held on with a disciplined and positive display, and an impressive win. At Staveley United, Kendal County had a comfortable and somewhat more predictable 0-5 win to progress to the next round. The game between Shap and Arnside was postponed.