KENDAL County inflicted a blow to Wetheriggs United's title aspirations for the second weekend running when the teams completed back-to-back league fixtures in the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League.

County's 1-0 victory over the defending champions on the Netherfield CC pitch added three points to the one taken from the previous Saturday's away draw.

County boss David Chambers said: "With this win we've taken four points off Wetheriggs and four off Coniston, but it's other slip-ups that haven't helped.

"It means we're reliant on other sides doing us a favour if we are to figure in the title race, but we're still not out of it."

Midfielder Lee Blamire struck inside the opening five minutes to decide the issue in what proved to be a very tight, hard-fought encounter with little flowing football to commend it.

Wetheriggs were caught cold as their opponents channelled the ball wide to Paul Grattan. His cross ended up being flicked into the air in the box and Blamire was on the end of it as it dropped to volley home.

Overall, chances were at a premium and there was little to trouble County keeper Richard Flaherty, on his first match for two years after a planned comeback at the club had been wrecked by a broken leg in pre-season training.

Wetheriggs' goalmouth, too, saw little action as the sides were locked in a no-frills midfield battle that eventually led to seven minutes of injury time.

Chambers praised substitute Kris Clough in particular for his part in the reshuffle when Blamire went off with a shoulder injury with half an hour remaining.

The red card would perhaps have been warranted earlier, but its appearance was delayed until injury time when a Wetheriggs player walked for abusive language.

Kendal Town Reserves' hopes of lifting the league title were badly dented with a surprise 2-1 defeat by Keswick.

Appleby came back from a month's lay-off with a 1-0 home win over Staveley United.

Manager Jock Nugent selected his youngest side of the season and they stuck to the task well to take all three points.

Staveley were reduced to 10 men when Ben Daniel was sent off for violent conduct, but the visitors' keeper Tim Wood kept them in the match, twice denying Paul Moffet, while Neil Deans was put clean through but failed to find the target.

There was a wake-up call for Appleby when Brendan O'Sullivan headed against the bar for Staveley just before half-time.

Nugent's men had the better second-half chances but Wood was in inspired form and made a double save from shots by John Coward and Steve Wharton.

It was the turn of Appleby keeper Paul Crawford to make a vital stop when O'Sullivan got through one-on-one, and the ball went straight back upfield from his throw-out.

On the wing David Nugent showed pace to get behind the defence and cross for Coward to supply the winning goal with a left-foot shot into the corner.

Bumps, ruts and divots were a great leveller in the goalless draw between Victoria SC and Windermere SC.

Windermere controlled 90 per cent of the play, but were too often beaten by the bounce. Nick Lewthwaite's 20-yard drive skimmed the bar, Warwick Pickering headed over and Peter Whitehead beat the defender only for the keeper to quickly pounce and claim the ball. Near the end of the match Vics had two opportunities with one-on-one situations, but keeper Mario Capaccio made two wonderful saves to keep Windermere in the match.

Ibis claimed three more crucial points toward their promotion bids with a 2-1 victory at Wetheriggs Reserves.

After withstanding a lot of pressure, Ibis defended well and goals from Stuart Dixon and a 25-yard volley from Liam O'Callaghan gave them a nine-point lead at the top of the Second Division.

Burneside let a two-nil lead slip but ran out 3-2 winners against Keswick Reserves. Two first-half goals from Martin O'Sullivan suggested Burneside were cruising. But Keswick scored two minutes into the second half and Burneside squandered plenty of chances and Keswick levelled the score with a back-post header from a free kick.

Burneside responded with a goal worthy of winning any game, Wayne Moore scoring with a 25-yard left-foot drive right into the bottom corner.

Results: Divison One: Appleby 1, Staveley United 0; Carleton Rovers 1, Penrith Reserves 0; Kendal County 1, Wetheriggs United 0; Keswick 2, Kendal Town Reserves 1; Victoria SC 0, Windermere SC 0.

Division Two: Burneside 3, Keswick Reserves 2; Dent 3, Carvetii United 1; Kirkoswald 7, Shap United 1; Penrith Rangers 8, Kendal County Reserves 0; Ullswater United 1, Greystoke 1; Wetheriggs United Reserves 1, Ibis 2.

Division Three: Ambleside United Reserves 3, Burneside Reserves 1; Coniston Reserves 5, Appleby Reserves 3; Grasmere 2, Wetheriggs United A 2; Greystoke Reserves v Carleton Rovers Reserves (postponed); Windermere SC Reserves 8, Penrith Rangers Reserves 0.

Division Four: Ibis Reserves 0, Northbank Carlisle Reserves 1; Kendal Celtic Reserves 0, Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves 4; Penrith Academy 9, Windermere SC A 2; Staveley United Reserves 3, Dent Reserves 3.