VILLAGE side Coniston

completed the double over defending champions Wetheriggs United, their closest rivals for the first division title, and did so in emphatic fashion with a

stirring 5-1 win at Penrith on Tuesday evening

Coniston have one league game left to play when hosts to Kendal County tomorrow (Saturday) and if they win, it will leave them on 59 points, a total that only Wetheriggs and Appleby can match - if they take maximum points from their remaining fixtures..

Wetheriggs and Appleby have to squeeze in five and seven more matches

respectively before the end of the season and the two teams are set to meet at Penrith on Saturday, May 3.

It leaves Coniston watching and waiting to see if either of their rivals slip up - handing the trophy to the Shepherd's Bridge side for the first time in a decade and only the third time according to league records.

It's an intriguing finish to what has been a very open season, but whatever the outcomes Coniston will take great satisfaction from their midweek 5-1 win over Wetheriggs.

A mighty defensive effort was the foundation of

Coniston's success as they frustrated Wetheriggs at every turn.

Midfielder Shane Todd stood out in his sweeper's role but every man in the side contributed to the victory.

Glen Todd finished well to put Coniston ahead after four minutes and David Cooper made it 2-0 at half time when forced the ball home in the six-yard box.

Around 40 free kicks were awarded against the visitors before the break as there was little flowing football on view, but Coniston kept a clean sheet and added three more goals.

Cooper headed home from a free kick, and then Paul

Walker nodded in a

corner-kick before Todd

slotted in his second of the afternoon from open play.

All this after losing midfielder Wayne Walker with a fractured cheekbone in an

aerial challenge.

Wetheriggs finally got on th scoresheet late on and it looked as if their efforts, which had secured 10 points from four games played in

10 days were taking their toll.

At the other end of the table,

Burneside moved out of the bottom two following their 2-0 win at Ambleside.

Ambleside now occupy the second relegation position, two points behind Burneside with both teams havingthree matches left.

In Division 4 Kendal Celtic's 70 victory away to Dent Reserves not only earns them promotion but also clinches the title.

Sedbergh Wanderers reached the final of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League's High Sheriff's Cup with a 4-1 win over Staveley at the neutral venue of

Burneside on Saturday.

Staveley had the better of the argument with the benefit of the wind advantage in the first half but the clocest they came to breaking the deadock was when Dan Wilkinson s low shot brought a brilliant save from Sedbergh keeper Melvyn Cragg, who got down to turn the effort away.

After a first half rmeained goalless, the match took a vicious turn when a double injury blow left Sedbergh without full back Graham Gardner and striker Jon Richardson, both taken to

hospital.

After 10 minutes of the second half Sedbergh lost full bakc Graham Gardner with torn ankle ligaments and then striker Jon Richardson with a broken collarbone after a

horrendous challenge.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, Sedbergh matched Staveley at their physical game and an Andy Todd strike opened the scoring when he wrong-footed Tim Wood from 25 yards..

Chris Bell levelled the scores five minutes later after John Kimblerley's header came back of the crossbar, but sub Trevor Winn turned the tide and a Dave Metcalfe free kick which went through the defensive wall made it 2-1.

Craig Moffat added Sedbergh's third when a Ben Smith shot was parried and Trevor Winn released Roger Keighley to wrap up the victory with a fourth.

Sedbergh now play Appleby in the final at a date to be fixed.

Kendal Town Reserves reached their third final this season when they brushed aside Penrith in the semi final of the Mason and Freeman Cup with a 4-0 victory.

An excellent solo goal by Steve Crosss put them on their way after 20 mins on a very windy day at Lunesdale.

The Kendal side adapted to the weather conditions better than their opponents and played some good attacking football.

Three more goals followed from Adam Towler, Chrissie Hayton and Stephen Ellwood to put them through to meet Ibis in the showpice.

Results round-up:

Wednesday, April 16 - Division 2: Grasmere 2, Endmoor KGR 2; Greystoke 1, Carvetii Utd 1.

Division 3: Windermere SC Res 2, Wetheriggs Utd A 0.

Thursday, April 17 - Division 1: Kendal County 7, Shap United 0; Keswick 0, Lunesdale Utd 4; Sedbergh Wanderers 2, Appleby 6; Windermere SC 0, Wetheriggs United 6.

Division 3: Carleton Rovers Res 3, Greystoke Res 1.

Saturday, April 19 - Division 1: Carleton Rovers 1, Wetheriggs United 2; Keswick 0, Victoria SC 2; Windermere SC 1, Appleby 0.

Division 2: Appleby Res 0, Dent 2; Kendal County Res 2, Greystoke 1; Kirkoswald 3, Endmoor KGR 1; Ullswater United 2, Carvetii United 3; Wetheriggs Utd Res 5, Grasmere 0.

Division 3: Coniston Res 5, Burneside Res 0; Greystoke Res 0, Windermere SC Res 7; Penrith Rangers 6, Carvetii Utd Res 2.

Division 4: Ibis Res 2, Endmoor KGR Res 4.

High Sheriff's Cup, semi-final: Staveley United 1, Sedbergh Wanderers 4.

Mason & Freeman Cup, semi-final: Kendal Town Res 4, Penrith Res 0.

Tuesday, April 22 - Division 1: Ambleside 0, Burneside 2; Appleby 4, Lunesdale Utd 1; Keswick 0, Kendla County 0; Wetheriggs Utd 1, Coniston 5.

Division 2: Ibis 0, Ullswater Utd 1; Penrith Res 0, Carvetii Utd 0.

Division 4: Dent Res 0, Kendal Celtic 7.

Wednesday, April 23 - Division 2: Kendal County Res 2, Appleby Res 0.

Division 3: Keswick Res 2, Burneside Res 2.

Rosthwaite Arabian Cup, semi-final: Staveley United Res 2, Endmoor KGR Res 3.

April 25, 2003 10:30