THE BENEVOLENT Trophy saw some Westmorland League sides in cross-division action on Saturday and second divison Endmoor gave top-flight Staveley a run for their money before succumbing to a 1-0 defeat in the first-round tie.

Endmoor called upon several reserves and veterans in their side, but were perhaps unfortunate to not at least get on the scoresheet.

There was never a lot to pick between the sides on the run of play, but Staveley kept the ball better. But in a match of few chances, they had a scare when Darren Chaplow, playing only his second successive full game in the past two seasons, chipped a shot from outside the box which looked to be set the break the deadlock.

The ball did not drop enough, however, and bounced off the crossbar. Chaplow was brought down going for the follow-up chance, but the referee was unsighted and there was no penalty awarded.

Instead Staveley took the chance to wrap it up seven minutes from the end when Gary Wilson lobbed a 45-yard free kick into a crowded penalty area and midfielder Chris Bell latched onto the ball, turned and slotted his shot adroitly into the corner.

While a newly-recruited teenage centre-back, whose name eluded the club's match contact, caught the eye for Endmoor, the plaudits for Staveley went to Brendan O'Sullivan, who had his best game of the season to date playing in the pocket behind the front two.

Second division Dent played Paul Boustead up as a lone striker against fourth division Penrith United and he revelled in the role, compiling a hat-trick against young and spirited opponents.

Dent imposed themselves to take a 2-0 lead but settled back too soon and allowed Penrith to get back on level terms before half-time.

But with Boustead's potent finishing always likely to produce goals, the Dales side went on to overpower their rivals in the second half for a 5-2 passage through with 16-year-old Andrew Burrow and Ben Smith also on target in a thoroughly committed team effort.

A point and two league places separate Burneside from Kendal Celtic in the second division, but for the first 25 minutes of this tie, played on Kendal United's pitch, Celtic were on top with Dan Collins masterminding the midfield.

Failure to turn possession into clear-cut chances was their undoing, however, as Burneside went ahead as Will Gunning stole the ball from keeper Dave Noble's feet and calmly slotted in.

Once ahead, Burneside looked much happier with Peter Gorst and Phil King settling into midfield control.

The openings came but Gunning and Martin O'Sullivan both hit the post before Gunning fired home from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Burneside defender Chris Dixon broke down Celtic's most hopeful moves in the second half and his side added a third goal when O'Sullivan produced a trademark low driven cross that was only partially cleared, the ball falling to Burneside youngster Tom Selby to dispatch.

Kendal Town Reserves travelled to second division high fliers Greystoke and made their class tell to run out comfortable 5-0 winners with goals from Kyle Hayton (2), Steven Ellwood, Shaun Pooley and Kevin Pickering.

A well-taken volley from Gary Bowles was enough for Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves to beat Victoria Sports Club.

Victoria could not pick up the pieces after the disappointment of having a goal disallowed with the score still at nil apiece, but lively Corinthians spurned a lot of chances, including three one-on-ones with the keeper.

On the league front, it was vital for Coniston to beat bottom of the table Penrith Rangers and they duly obliged, but a 3-2 victory was a little closer than they would have liked.

Stuart Walker put the village lads ahead with an opportunist goal when the ball ran loose in the penalty box and he shot through a ruck of players.

Sparky Rangers equalised midway through the first half with a fine solo effort, but Glen Todd restored Coniston's lead from the penalty spot after Timmy Fletcher had been brought down.

Coniston then had to start all over again when Rangers restored parity for a second time, and it was a tribute to their character that they kept going for Adam McGinley to supply the winner with two minutes to go.

It was well-worked by Fletcher and Todd down the right before Fletcher crossed for McGinley to turn his sidefooted shot in.

Coniston manager Bob Browning said: "It was a good result for us given we were short of players and a great battling performance."

While Wetheriggs United took advantage of the Trophy matches to go top of the first division with a 3-1 win at Ibis, Kendal Town Reserves could manage only a 1-1 draw against those same rivals under the Parkside floodlights in midweek.

Wetheriggs Reserves also won to go top of the second division after a 3-0 win over Windermere Reserves and their third team lead the way in the fourth division after taking a point from fellow promotion hopefuls Staveley United Reserves in a 1-1 draw.

Association of Northern Counties Senior Competition: North Riding County FA (Stokesley) 3, Westmorland County FA (Kendal County) 2.

Benevolent Trophy, first round: Dent 5, Penrith United 2; Endmoor KGR 0, Staveley United 1; Victoria Sports Club 0, Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves 1; Greystoke 0, Kendal Town Reserves 5; Kendal Celtic 0, Burneside 3.

Division Two: Keswick Reserves 2, Lunesdale United 1; Wetheriggs United Reserves 3, Windermere SC Reserves 0.

Division Three: Ambleside United Reserves 3, Braithwaite 3; Appleby Reserves v Grasmere (postponed); Burneside Reserves 2, Shap 2; Northbank Carlisle Reserves 3, Greystoke Reserves 2; Penrith Rangers Reserves 5, Ibis Reserves 4.

Division Four: Burneside Academy 2, Dent Reserves 7; Carvetii United Reserves 5, Coniston Reserves 1; Lunesdale United Reserves 7, Endmoor KGR Reserves 0; Shap Reserves v Kendal Celtic Reserves (postponed); Staveley United Reserves 1, Wetheriggs United A 1.

Tuesday: Division One: Ibis 1, Kendal Town Reserves 1.