A REARRANGED North Feeder League women's match ended with Kirkby Stephen beating Dalston 3-1 on Sunday at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, the previous week's meeting having been called off the week before due to injury and the weather.

On a cold but much better day, both teams started well and were determined to win this important match between the league's two Cumbrian teams.

Dalston took the lead with a strong individual goal after a break down the wing set up a score into the top corner. Kirkby Stephen rallied to equalise soon afterwards with Sarah Richardson making it 1-1.

Kirkby worked together well as a team, and Mel Earl scored a superb goal, placing a controlled shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 at half time.

Both teams renewed the contest keenly in the second half as the game remained in the balance. Kirkby battled hard, putting pressure on the visitors' defence and Liz Newcombe scored after quarter of an hour to extend Kirkby's lead to 3-1.

Strong play from both the defence and midfield led to a fourth and final goal from a penalty corner with Becky Richardson converting to seal a convincing and much-needed win for the Kirkby Stephen side.

Sides share 12-goal epic.

AFTER a 5-1 knock-back at the hands of Barrow the previous weekend, Kendal were much more like their usual selves for their Cumbria League derby match with Ambleside, in which the honours ended all square in a 12-goal thriller.

Despite the final 6-6 scoreline, Kendal dominated the first half with good passing play and built a 5-2 half-time lead on the Lakes Astro pitch.

Accurate passing and busy teamwork put Kendal on top as Trudy Luttrell scored two fine goals and Sarah Brooks collected her first for the club from a penalty corner, with Andrea Elvey supplying another two goals before half time.

Ambleside replied with an early equaliser through Helen Thomas and then she also converted a penalty flick just before the interval to give them hope for the second half.

It remained highly competitive after the break with Ambleside building on their progress in some hard-fought exchanges.

Two Kendal's players were yellow-carded, reducing their number to nine, but they continued to have good chances but were thwarted by the packed home defence.

It was Ambleside who lifted the tempo to pull another goal back from Louise Hartley, who rounded a couple of defenders and fired in to make it 5-3 before Kendal finally put away a penalty-corner chance.

Even then Ambleside battled on and their efforts earned them two more goals through Helen Thomas and Helen Murgatroyd to make it 6-5.

In a frantic finish Louise Hartley snatched an equaliser for Ambleside to end one of the highest-scoring action-packed matches for a considerable time.

Leaders are pushed hard.

WINDERMERE narrowly lost to unbeaten Cumbria League leaders Wigton 3-2 on Sunday. Wigton got off to a flying start with their first goal coming after only two minutes from Diane Hardon.

They continued the pressure and scored another goal before Windermere began to match the visiting side for pace and skill.

Windermere's first goal came when Carol Quill nudged the ball across the top of the D for Jane Jackson to drive the ball through the keeper's legs into the net.

Wigton then replied by converting a quick break into their third and final goal.

Windermere's second goal came just before half time when Cath Musetti slipped the ball to Carol Quill, who sent it across the D to Sarah Whitehead in space, who neatly slotted it past the keeper.

Well-timed tackling from Windermere's Fiona Wood and saves from keeper Rosemary Wadmore prev-ented the Wigton forwards from scoring any further goals.

Windermere continued to attack with accurate passes from Racheal Rigg into the D coming to nothing due to good stops from the Wigton's keeper. No further goals were scored but the home side were well pleased with their strong team performance.