WINDERMERE are another step closer to automatic promotion from NW Division Seven after this comprehensive home victory on Saturday.

Bowdon 7ths conceded five goals without reply in their first encounter before Christmas and the return fixture was little different.

Steve Heyns grabbed the first of his three goals to open the scoring, slotting the ball into goal after Matt Hartnett passed to him from the backline. Mike Hodgson then finished a great move after Heyns had twice linked with the rapidly-advancing Hartnett Scott Santamera pounced on a loose ball in the D, after a super dribble and shot by Gerry de Beer, to add a third.

Bowdon were pinned back in their own half for much of the first half, but when they did manage to break quickly, Ed Waterhouse conceded a short corner for a rash challenge and they pulled a goal back with a well- practiced routine.

Any suggestion of a comeback was quickly dashed when de Beer drove home a fourth goal when Bowdon failed to clear a free hit for stick-tackling him on the edge of the D.

Windermere's superior quality created all kinds of problems and winger Sam Crompton made a solo burst into the D before rifling in the fifth goal. Steve Heyns resisted a sturdy challenge before smacking home a sixth, then completed his hat-trick with a fine reverse stick shot from the edge of the D.

WINDERMERE'S half-term holiday ravaged 2nd team was boosted by the presence of Gerry de Beer in midfield for a re-arranged Sunday Association match at Kirkby Stephen and the result was a flattering 13-1 victory with a staggering eight goals by Mike Hodgson and further strikes by de Beer, Rob Griffiths, Richard Dawson and Ed Waterhouse. The game gave Windermere's emerging juniors valuable senior match experience and they grew in awareness and confidence as the game progressed.