LEAGUE champions Wethering United took the Westmorland FA Invitation Trophy off holders Kendal County with a 3-1 win at Parkside on Wednesday night.

County did all their best work in the first half and took a sixth-minute lead when Ian Alplin's flick found Paul Gratton and his cross to the near post allowed Lee Blamire to dispatch a powerful turning header that the keeper got a hand to but could not stop.

Five minutes later, Wetheriggs' Martin Currie rattled the crossbar with a free kick and the Penrith side were on level terms by the 15th minute, County keeper Richard Flaherty fumbling a corner for on-rushing Anthony Haydon to head the ball over the line.

Despite the setback, County got into a good rhythm and passed well, but they looked vulnerable to balls played into the penalty box and faced a couple of scrambles in defence to keep the score 1-1 at half time.

Signs that Wetheriggs were to pose a greater threat after the break came when Flaherty's fingertip saved denied a point-blank header. County threatened, too, with Ryan Wallace hitting a snap shot against the bar and then Peter Nicholls chested down a pass and fired narrowly wide.

If they had scored at this stage, County might have had a different story to tell. Instead Wetheriggs' decisive second goal arrived on 70 minutes and was a gem. Jon Green slid a superbly-weighted through pass past the County back line and substitute forward Steve Hall timed his run to perfection to latch on to the ball and sweep it past Flaherty.

Hall's shirtless celebrations saw him become the first player booked for such an offence in a Westmorland final, though he did have on his vest!

City's hopes of turning around the final faded in the 83rd minute when keeper Flaherty was sent off for violent conduct after clashing with Hall in a goalmouth tangle.

Substitute Ben Haddrigg replaced the dismissed keeper but Currie coolly tucked away his penalty to give Wetheriggs a two-goal cushion against a County side that had run out of steam.

Staveley entertained Keswick in a battle between sides languishing in the lower echelons of the first division of the Talbot Insurance Westmorland League on Saturday.

Going a goal behind, Staveley worked their way into a 3-1 lead before having to share the points in a 3-3 draw.

Gary Loan put Keswick ahead but they had keeper Graham Marshall sent off for handling outside the area and Loan went between the sticks.

A Brendan O'Sullivan strike from close range and then a Gary Wilson penalty followed by another goal with a cross-cum-shot off the same player gave the home side a 3-1 lead.

However, Mike Frampton pulled one back for Keswick and in a last throw of the dice Loan, who had relinquished the keeper's gloves, head home for the draw.

Coniston gained a welcome win - only their second in six - and in style with a 5-3 victory at Carleton Rovers.

David Cooper kept the visitors in the hunt with a first-half strike after they had gone behind and he added another in the second half for a 2-1 lead.

Carleton struck twice to go 3-2 up but Coniston stuck to their task and Peter Blair's cross put Tim Fletcher in to equalise before Glen Todd beat several players to score a fine individual goal and then made the result safe with a fifth right at the end.

Windermere received a lesson in finishing from Wetheriggs in a 7-0 defeat.

For the first 20 minutes Windermere were as good if not better than their opponents but chances for Jamie Crawford and Callum Thwaites went begging. Even when Wetheriggs went ahead from the penalty spot, Windermere should have equalised but Jamie Parkinson's effort was well-saved. Wetheriggs went back upfield and scored twice for a 3-0 interval lead and as Windermere pushed men forward they were punished by another four goals.

Ibis centre-forward Chris Ellwood scored twice and Liam O'Callaghan once in a 3-2 win over Penrith Rangers.

Ibis were stronger on the ball and although Penrith played some neat football, it was the telling factor as they made it three wins out of six, with midfielder Dan Wilkinson the pick of the side.

Appleby's improved league showing continued with a 2-0 home victory over Ambleside United.

Ian Parkin scored after seven minutes with a header from David Johnson's cross to the far post.

Appleby went on to dominate the match and should have been been at least five goals up by half time and they spurned more chances in the second half.

Instead Appleby had to settle for just one more goal late in the second half when Steve Warton squared the ball across for John Coward to hit a shot from outside the box into the corner of the net. Pick of the Appleby side were David John and David Nugent.

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the first round of the County Cup, matches kicking off at 2pm.

Results: Division 1: Appleby 2, Ambleside Utd 0; Carleton Rovers 3, Coniston 5; Penrith Rangers 2, Ibis 3; Staveley 3, Keswick 3; Windermere SC 0, Wetheriggs Utd 7.

Division 2: Burneside 2, Keswick Res 2; Dent 2, Kirkoswald 3; Greystoke 2, Windermere SC Res 1; Kendal Celtic v Lunesdale Utd - postponed; Ullswater Utd v Endmoor KGR - postponed; Wetheriggs Res 3, Victoria SC 0.

Division 3: Carvetii Utd 10, Penrith Rangers Res 0; Grasmere 4, Greystoke Res 1; Northbank Carlisle Res 5, Ambleside Utd Res 1; Sedbergh Wanderers Res 2, Burneside Res 1; Shap 2, Braithwaite 2.

Division 4: Burneside Academy 2, Wetheriggs Utd A 5; Endmoor KGR Res 2, Dent Res 4; Kendal Celtic Res 1, Carvetii Utd Res 2; Lunesdale Utd Res 0, Staveley Utd Res 2; Windermere SC A 0, Shap Res 1.