[I]t was another busy week for Westmorland football, and in Westmorland High Sheriff’s Cup Semi Finals, Pirelli finally showed a chink in their armour when they met Appleby, who were riding high after their victory over Keswick to win the Benevolent Trophy, and Appleby won this tie 0-2 away from home at the Pirelli Sports Fields, thanks to goals from John Coward and Bobby Atkinson. Appleby will meet Sedbergh Wanderers in the final after Wanderers had a comfy 7-1 win over Kendal County Reserves with Sedbergh’s goals from Dale Metcalfe and David Burton, two for from Shaun Gardner and a hat-trick from the prolific Liam Mason.
Earlier in the week in Westmorland League Division One there were two mid week fixtures, and Kendal Utd drew 3-3 at home with Kendal County Reserves, and Pirelli scraped another three points with a 0-1 away win over Penrith Reserves, and with the win Pirelli went top of Division One. On Saturday, and with Pirelli in Cup action, Keswick had the chance to claw back top spot with a home match against Ibis, and they won out 2-1 in a close game with goals from Richard Bannister and Sam Reilly, and Keswick went top of the Division, at least for now.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Kirkoswald lost 0-3 to Windermere SC, and Windermere stay fourth behind Appleby, Pirelli and Keswick. In the Penrith derby refereed by Simon Vogt, Wetheriggs United took on Penrith Reserves at Gilwilly Rec and it was Wetheriggs who prevailed with a 3-0 win, with goals from Kieran Wallance, Lewis Windle and Niall Renwick.
In the midweek Division Two matches, Greystoke narrowly lost 0-1 to Endmoor KGR, who kept second place and now remain the only real challenge to league leaders Shap. who beat former title contenders Eden Thistle 1-4. Castletown United kept up their impressive run of recent form to make it four wins in a row, beating basement side Langwathby United away 0-6, with a hat trick from Ryan Gate, a brace from Ewan Willacy and one goal for Searus Aynsley. Kendal United Reserves beat Ullswater United 2-0 at home, and Endmoor KGR had a second midweek match on Thursday, and edged closer to Shap with a 3-0 win over Keswick Reserves. Staveley United lost 1-4 to Dent.
The Saturday matches saw fourth placed Castletown Utd take on Shap, and Shap won promotion to Division One with a close 1-2 away victory at Frenchfield. Shap edged the first half, and always looked very dangerous on the counter attack, and Castletown went 0-2 down to goals from Shap’s Ben Palmer in the first half and Luke Fraser in the second half. Despite a sustained period of pressure and a goal from Liam Robinson, Castletown couldn’t claw back the difference, didn’t convert any more chances, the visitor’s defence held firm, and whilst it was close, Shap deservedly won all three points.
Shap’s rivals for the title, Endmoor KGR, had a 2-0 win over, Greystoke with the goals coming from Connor Crawshaw-Collins and Jordan Kenny. Dent lost 1-2 at home to Keswick Reserves, and Ullswater United grabbed a welcome win over Wetheriggs United Reserves, with Wetheriggs’ three goals from Memo Karapinar, Josh Halliwell and Chris Wilson not enough to match Ullwater’s four. Windermere SC Reserves had a 5-0 win over Langwathby Utd, and Braithwaite drew 1-1 with Carleton Banks in a match that saw Kieran Graham red carded, the Soccermoos scoring from the penalty spot and Charlie Andrews equalising for BFC.
In Division Three, the midweek fixtures saw AFC Carlisle draw 1-1 with Penrith Royal to go six points clear at the top of the table. Ibis Reserves had a convincing 5-0 win over Penrith Town with goals two goals for Dean Stephenson and one each for Joel Nicholson, Shaun Askew and Josh Ford, and Lunesdale United. LUFC moved into sixth spot with a 2-2 draw with Kirkoswald Reserves. It was the Kirkoswald who took the lead in this game, only for James Mandle to equalise from the penalty spot. Kirkoswald took the lead again and went into half time 2-1 up. The second half was a well balanced affair but 16 year old Robert Wilson came on as a substitute for LUFC at The Old Showfield and scored on 78 minutes, his first senior goal. Finally midweek, Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves were hammered 0-6 by Ambleside Town.
On Saturday AFC Carlisle were without a weekend fixture yet again, and both of the chasing teams, Appleby Reserves and Ambleside Town had away matches at Frenchfield, Appleby walloped Penrith AFC Academy 0-11, with the goals from Scott Turnbull (3), Scott Forrester (2) and Kevin Soweby (2), Aaron Dent, Andy Butterworth and Morgan Fothergill, and Appleby are promoted into Division Two with the win and on the news that third placed Ambleside Town had lost away at Penrith Royal, with Royal winning 3-1. Congratulations to Liam Dent and all of the Appleby lads on great day for Appleby football.
Royal’s match was goal less in the first half but sprang to life in the second half. Ambleside took a deserved lead on 51 minutes, having had the better of the first half. Royal equalised with a very good header from a corner four minutes later. They went ahead mid-way through the second half. Ambleside were awarded a penalty by referee Mark Hunter to draw level, but their efforts were in vain when the captains effort was smartly saved by the Royal keeper who dived to his left. With Ambleside pushing for an equaliser, Royal punished them with six minutes remaining to make the final score 3-1, which slightly flattered the hosts!
In fact it was a miserable day for Penrith. The first team lost 1-4 to Whitley Bay in the Northern league Division One, The Reserves Lost, the Academy lost, and Burneside beat Penrith Town 3-2. Finally Lunesdale Utd triumphed over Penrith Saints FC 7-1 at Maurice Park in a good natured game with the LUFC goals a David Beecham hat trick and a brace each for John Wolstenholme and Ryan Law.