Kendal Men were left feeling that they had lost two points rather than gained one, in a tense 3-3 draw at Timperley in North West Men's League Division Five.

The away side started more sharply and played a tight first half, with lots of support in attack and Bradshaw and Bloxham dominating the midfield.

Plenty of energy and communication from Kendal gave them superiority and Timperley were panicked into making mistakes.

One such mistake was a back pass deftly intercepted by Barclay who struck the ball past the goalkeeper with a sweet reverse-stick shot.

More chances followed, as Timperley were denied a single clean chance in the first half. Meanwhile, Galloway extended Kendal's lead with a superb turn to clip the ball in from the top of the area.

The game changed when the captain Bradshaw limped off after standing on the ball shortly into the second half.

All the good work of the first period was undone by poor decision-making, selfish dribbling or panicked passing, despite Elleray's shot being bundled in by Barclay for his second goal.

Timperley regained their composure and were allowed to keep and recycle the ball far too easily, and their goals had a feeling of inevitability as the game was drawn.

Double draw dents Mere title chance n WINDERMERE Men's division title challenge was dented at the weekend in double-header fixtures against Bolton 5ths on Saturday and Sefton 4ths on Sunday.

Windermere's away fixture at Bolton resulted in a thrilling 4-4 draw and, on Saturday, the same sides gave a repeat performance at Troutbeck Bridge and drew 4-4 again.

Jonathan Randall-Paley gave Windermere the lead with a mishit slow ball' shot from a short corner that deceived the Bolton goalkeeper. Bolton swept back with a clever touch at the far post.

Windermere linked well and, after threatening the Bolton goal on several occasions, Mike Hodgson finished off a delightful move involving Randall-Paley and Sam Crompton on the right.

A dogged Bolton pulled level once more with a soft goal from close range before Windermere captain Dominic Quill was put clear by Randall-Paley, drew the goalkeeper and fired confidently into goal.

Bolton then scored their best goal of the game before Quill pounced on a cross by Crompton. Bolton would not yield, however, and grabbed yet another equaliser close to the end.

The following day, Sefton 4ths visited Troutbeck Bridge for a re-arranged fixture, but the team they brought clearly bubbled with talent shaped in a higher division.

Windermere battled bravely, but trailed 2-0 at half-time and finally succumbed 3-1. Sam Crompton scored at close range with the Sefton defence in disarray. All three Sefton goals were scored from short corners.

Injury problem n A CHANGED Kendal Ladies team of only the minimum number went to Penrith in the Cumbria League on Sunday and the loss of skipper Nicola Martindale before half-time made their task even harder before they eventually went down 4-2.

The spoiling wind contributed to a sluggish first-half pace with both teams struggling to create much before Penrith went ahead midway through the half and added a second just before the half-time whistle.

Considering Martindale's injury, Kendal did well to keep the scoreline down to 2-0 at that stage.

Even with a player down, Kendal fared better after the break, upping the tempo and passing well but Penrith added a third goal before Andrea Elvey found the target with a lofted shot into the top corner.

More chances followed and Louise Whitely scored a well-deserved second to make it 3-2, but try as they may, they could not get on level terms and Penrith scored a fourth to wrap up the victory.

There were strong performances from Jo Martin and Helen Hartley in the Kendal defence.

Nine-goal spree n ULVERSTON Ladies enjoyed a goal fest with a 9-1 rout of Glaxo in their Cumbria League derby, though ankle-ligament injury to Ulrike Jones, which could put her out for the rest of the season, tempered celebrations.

A clean strike from Vicky Weeks set the ball rolling and she added another from a well-worked short corner before Paula Eddy helped in Rachel Smith's shot to make it 3-0.

Glaxo pulled a goal back through Jemma Kelly's deflected short-corner shot, but Ulverston replied when Claire Grace made a 25-yard solo run and finished well.

Jones showed fine individual touches to make two further goals to make it 6-1, Eddy grabbed another two and new recruit Natalie Gill bagged her first for the side.

The final whistle came as Jones went down injured and Ulverston are sure to miss her strong midfield performances if she does not come back this season.

Barrow shade thriller n Ambleside were always chasing to get on terms with Barrow before losing 4-3 in their Cumbria League clash at Ulverston.

Barrow went ahead from a free-hit situation but Ambleside's Hazel Jones levelled the scores when tucking away a parried ball from a penalty-corner shot.

Barrow went 2-1 up from open play, but Ambleside equalised again when a Hazel Jones's shot fell to Helen Murgatroyd, who pushed the ball in at the left post.

Barrow had the majority of the attacks, but fine saves by Ambleside keeper Amy Kitching kept the score 2-2 at half-time.

Barrow seemed the hungrier team and quicker to the ball throughout and went ahead for the third time from a penalty corner, and made it 4-2 two minutes later when converting a cross.

Ambleside were not done yet and Amanda Faulkner dribbled from the halfway line into the circle. Although her shot was saved, Claire Munday followed up for Ambleside's third but they could not score again to earn a point. Both teams had a player sent off for five minutes due to over-exuberant stick tackling.