WINDERMERE have had mixed fortunes so far, but they were up for the derby game at Ambleside last Saturday and were buzzing after a 6-4 win gave their first Westmorland League victory of the season.

Settling quickly, Windermere took an early lead after five minutes from a quickly-taken free kick from 40 yards out which Peter Whitehead aimed towards the back post only to see the ball carried in by the wind.

Warwick Pickering showed some nice touches with a drag-back and a nutmeg in the penalty box before slotting in Windermere's second, But Ambleside pulled one back when taking advantage of hesitancy in defence.

Windermere regained the two-goal cushion, however, on the half-hour thanks to Ross White who was put in from the right and let fly with a 20-yard shot which went in off the crossbar.

When Pickering struck for his second, latching on to a through pass and slotting in past the oncoming Ambleside keeper, Windermere were somewhat surprised to be turning round 4-1 ahead.

A fifth Windermere goal arrived after the restart, a short free kick into the path of James Crawford being despatched in unstoppable fashion into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Windermere's Dan Nield was stupidly sent off after getting himself involved in a flare-up and Ambleside made it 5-3 with a Chris Barton free kick.

The Ambleside keeper went off with a leg injury before Windermere struck again for their sixth, Justin Kydd springing the offside trap and finishing well.

It was all Ambleside afterwards, from whom Barton (2), Steve Savage and Mike Moorehead made up their tally, but Windermere hung on for a sweet victory with centre-half Graham Maher impressing in midfield and 17-year-old James Ashburn doing well for them in defence.

Kendal County showed what they were capable of after some indifferent form with an 8-0 thrashing at Greystoke.

In a good team performance, Dave Glynn's shot from just outside the penalty area got them off to a flying start and Dave Chambers then scored the first of his two goals with a header after a keeper's error.

Peter Nichols beat the offside trap to knock in the third without reply, but Greystoke created some good chances and County keeper Richard Slattery made two important saves just before half time.

As a result, County were able to restore their supremacy with a Steve Cross far-post header extending the lead to 4-0.

An early ball from the right allowed Nichols to strike again with a first-time shot and an indirect free kick touched to Chambers in the box was blasted into the top corner.

Striker Dave Metcalfe was not to be left out of the fun and grabbed a couple in the last 10 minutes, toepoking in after a scramble and then collecting a pass over the top to lob the keeper.

Staveley came out tops with a 2-1 win in an evenly contested game with Sedbergh.

After 10 minutes a Sedbergh corner was met by Kevin Waters, returning after a few weeks absence, and his shot across goal rebounded from the post to give Sedbergh the lead.

Five minutes late Ty Hayton crossed the ball to Eddie Taylor who smashed home the equaliser.

Possession was shared for most of the match as the two sides enjoyed the warm sunshine at Staveley, but 10 minutes from the end a strike by Chris Bell from the edge of the penalty area gave the home side victory over the tiring Sedbergh side, but with striker Andy Todd now back from suspension and Ivan Moffatt only having to miss one more game Sedbergh hope to have turned the corner.

Endmoor KGR cruised to a 4-1 win over Kirkoswald in division two.

A good first half saw the visitors take a 3-0 lead, with goals by Graeme Dixon, Gary Frearson and Simon Park.

Although Kirkoswald pulled on back after half time, it was Endmoor who finished stronger with Philip Graham rounding off the scoring.

Champions Wetheriggs United outbattled Carvetti in a 3-2 victory with both sets of forwards giving the defences plenty to do.

Gary Bailey put Wetheriggs ahead with a long-range chip over the keeper only for Carvettit to o equalise immediately from the restart through Willie Paul's cross-cum-shot.

An Andrew Chapman penalty put Carvetti 2-1 up but Wetheriggs turned round on level terms after Jonathan Edward blasted in an equaliser just before half time.

Wetheriggs worked hard to get the upper hand in the second half but a soft goal gave them the three points when the keeper fumbled Craig Nanson's downward header.

Coniston have three wins and two draws to their name after a 3-1 win at home to Shap.

Glen Todd tucked away the loose ball when the keeper parried Stuart Walker's shot but Shap equalised before half time from a free kick.

Another free kick to Coniston's second in the second half, Peter Blair finishing off a well-worked move.

Substitute Simon Carr sealed it with 10 minutes left when he forced a path to goal past two defenders and slid the ball home.

Lunesdale United found Second Division Grasmere in determined mood before winning 2-1 in their delayed Benevolent Trophy, first-round match.

Paul Boustead gave Lunesdale the lead when he outpaced the home defence on to a through pass and Lewis Tinsley, deputising for a missing regular, scored a second goal to make it 2-0 at half time.

Grasmere mounted a succession of attacks at the visitors tired and were awarded penalty but Mike Pattinson saved.

Grasmere eventually scored from close range to put Lunesdale under latep ressure, but they hung on for a home tie against Greystoke in the second round.