A TWO-GOAL riposte in two minutes saw Kendal Town Reserves pull off an incredible fightback as they retrieved a 3-1 deficit to run out 4-3 winners in the Westmorland County FA Invitation Trophy final at Parkside on Wednesday evening.

First division champions Wetheriggs looked on course for the season's first silverware after second division Town - runners-up in last season's County Cup - conceded two own goals, but showed immense character in never giving up the cause.

Town's crisp passing style and pacey running posed problems throughout, but they slipped behind to a 12th-minute own goal when skipper Jamie Wilson headed an attempted clearance into his own net.

Town keeper Stuart Parkin pulled off a couple of great first-half saves from Paul Kipling and they turned round on level terms when Steven Cross collected Steve Ellwood's squared pass and thumped in a 34th-minute cross-shot.

Within a minute of the second half starting, Wetheriggs were 2-1 up as Dan Broadley outpaced the defence after a blocked clearance bounced his way and he put a well-struck 20-yard shot into the far corner.

Worse still, another own goal, this time by Gary Major, from a defence that wanted a bit too much time on the ball, left Town trailing 3-1 but first-team pair Peter Smith and David Foster had come off the bench as three went up front.

Town roared back five minutes later when Mark Thompson finished off superb approach work from Jimmy Ellwood.

With seven minutes to go, tireless Town went into overdrive.

Substitute Kevin Pickering nodded in the equaliser following a corner and 60 seconds later they opened up the Wetheriggs defence again for Jimmy Ellwood to lash in Smith' s pull-back to put them ahead for the first time at 4-3.

Wetheriggs had a first-rate chance to take it to extra time but Broadley's lob was wide with the keeper stranded and it was Town skipper Jamie Wilson who stepped up to collect the trophy.

Manager Andy Major commented: "It was an excellent final played in a sporting manner and Town showed real character to come back from 3-1 to win it.

But we should not get carried away.

Our main aim is to win promotion so we can play good sides like Wetheriggs week in, week out."

In the league, Coniston took a 3-0 lead through David Cooper (2) and Stuart Walker in their top of the table clash with Staveley United.

Staveley pulled two back, but could not force an equaliser.

It leaves Coniston joint leaders with Wetheriggs, narrow 1-0 winners over Burneside.

Staveley slipped to fourth place as Carleton Rovers kept their 100 per cent winning record thanks to a dramatic 5-1 victory over Ambleside.

Ambleside led 1-0 through a Galen Hill strike with 20 minutes left but caved in after an equaliser as four more goals followed.

Forced to play away until October because of caravans on their Walker Park pitch, Keswick have six points out a possible nine after a 3-2 win at Victoria SC.

Victoria snatched the lead when Phil Graham intercepted a lazy pass and scored.

Keswick's new boss Barry Gaskell gave them a stern half-time talk and they equalised through Steve Hilton and further goals from Stuart Lamb and Mike Frampton made it 3-1.

Victoria player-manager Gary Billington brought himself off the bench and scored with his first touch, chipping the keeper but they could not earn a point.

Midfielder Gary Bailey struck to give Wetheriggs United a 1-0 win over Barry Metcalfe's Burneside.

Chances were missed and so was a penalty as Dan Broadley hit the woodwork as the keeper fouled outside the area but stayed on.

Tom Moffat, Sedbergh's manager, has resigned because of players failing to attend training and not making themselves available for matches.

The club met this week to nominate a successor.

Endmoor KGR had a 3-0 win away to Ullswater.

Andy Luisi hit a sweet shot into the bottom corner for a

1-0 half-time lead and two great strikes by Lee Stephenson followed.

Dent ran out 5-1 winners over Grasmere in Division Two with Paul Boustead hitting four and Steve Hoggarth also on target.