[A]fter another wet week, the Westmorland FA finally managed to get their two outstanding Senior and Junior Cup Quarter Finals played at the third time of asking after weather postponements, but seemed blissfully unaware of their own competition rule in the cups that reverse the venue of ties after two postponements (its Rule 9!).
In the Senior Challenge Cup, Endmoor KGR now had the home advantage over Shap and progress to the Semi Finals with goals from Adam Soulby, Nathan Dixon and Matt Wilson. They will meet Kendal County in a local derby in the first Semi Final, and in the other Semi Final, Appleby will meet cup holders Milnthorpe Corinthians. Both games are scheduled for March 10th.
In the remaining Junior Cup Quarter Final, Keswick Reserves had an epic 4-3 win over Kendal Utd Reserves in a game that went to extra time. The game was delayed by the late arrival of referee Alan Jackson, who was sent to Kendal instead of Keswick, but after the wait it was a marvellous encounter for spectators with a pulsating game, plenty of goals and two red cards.
The first ninety minutes were a fairly even affair, and Kendal were 1-2 up before Keswick equalised to make it 2-2 in the final minutes of normal time. In extra time Keswick began to dominate, and they took a 4-2 lead which should have seen them home to safety, but Kendal weren’t done yet and pulled back a third goal after they were awarded a penalty, leading to a tense end to a great cup game.
Keswick won through with goals from Cameron Ball, Dan Abbot, Adam Gaskell and Ben Jefferson and Kendal’s goals were from Brett Walker, Matt Kennedy and Dave Crierie. And yes, despite the FA Full Time posting the result as a home win for Kendal, it was a home win for Keswick!
There was also one Westmorland Benevolent Trophy Quarter Final, and after a tough battle, Westmorland Division Two title hopefuls Dent lost out 1-2 to Division Three challengers Kirkby Stephen who will be delighted with the win in a senior cup. Andy Lockhart scored both goals for the visitors, and in tight game, Alistair Bainbridge replied for Dent.
There were a number postponements due to waterlogged pitches across the James Cropper Westmorland Leagues, but two High Sheriff’s Cup ties did go ahead. In the first tie, Ibis lost 1-2 at home to Appleby, with Jordan Crawford and Bobby Atkinson scoring for the visitors, and Dan Jones netting for Ibis.
Wetheriggs United also lost at home, their second defeat in successive weekends to Kirkoswald, losing this one 1-3, even with the help of Penrith’s in form striker Martyn Coleman playing in the red and white stripes. Kirkoswald go through on the back of goals from Niall Renwick, Reece Simpson and Nicholas Jake Holden, with Niall Renwick now on 26 goals from 16 appearances in all competitions, topping the Westmorland League striker statistics by some way.
In Division Two of the Westmorland League, Carleton Banks stay clear at the top of the table with an emphatic 6-1 win over Staveley United.
Nathan Moorhead scored a brace for the Soccermoos along with goals for Corrie Pearson, Liam Jackson, Mark Nixon and new boy Jordan Lawson. Appleby Reserves eased their relegation worries with a good 5-2 home win over Greystoke, with Morgan Fothergill scoring twice and Jack Baxter, Blake Forrester and a Greystoke own goal giving the home side the win.
Ullswater United lost 0-1 at home to the in form Braithwaite, with Jack Farley scoring the only goal. Braithwaite are now in seventh place after three wins and a draw in their last four games, Staveley eighth, Appleby Ninth, Greystoke tenth, Ullswater eleventh, AFC Carlisle twelfth and Windermere SC in the basement slot.
In Division Three, Langwathby United had a useful 4-1 win over Ambleside Utd Reserves, and Penrith AFC Academy were delighted with their 2-0 victory over Burneside, reversing a recent run of close defeats with a fabulous two goal win against the visitors, who are in third place in the table.
Adam Robley opened the scoring on eighteen minutes with a headed goal, and Taryn Reay made it 2-0 just six minutes later when he pounced on the ball and rounded the Burneside ‘keeper to finish well. Despite spells of Burneside pressure, Academy held firm, helped no end by a great performance from Kieran Hodgson, and a man of the match performance from the outstanding youngster Luke Hunter behind the front two.
In the Peter Daws Memorial Shield, Endmoor KGR Reserves lost out 2-5 to Lunesdale Utd in match (very sensibly!) moved to Frenchfield.
Lunesdale took the lead in the fifth minute when Sean Boustead sneaked in at the back post and buried a cross into the back of the net, and LUFC went 2-0 up two minutes later when Brandon Brett stole in at the back post to hit an unstoppable shot past the KGR ‘keeper Craig Stephenson after some very good work down the left-hand side.
Twenty minutes later, Endmoor reduced the arrears and the score was 1-2 at half time with both teams pushing to score more goals. Within two minutes of the re-start Sean Boustead made it 1-3 to Lunesdale with an powerful shot from twenty yards out, and then Endmoor KGR Reserves pulled back another goal with a well-placed shot from ten yards. Endmoor were now pushing for the equaliser but on 85 minutes Brand Brett picked the ball up down the left and outpaced the defender and scored into the far corner from a very tight angle. 2-4.
Endmoor then pushed everything forward only to be caught by a quick counter attack when a defence splitting pass by Brett found Robbie Wharton in space to score Lunesdale’s fifth. Although the score line was 2-5, Endmoor KGR never gave up and only a last-minute header off the line by Lunesdale’s Dillan Potts kept the score at 2-5. The Endmoor goals came from the excellent Dean Sill and Chris Ross.