Keswick’s first team remain firmly in the JMP Foodservice Westmorland League first division title hunt with manager Mike Frampton expecting a four-team battle to the finish.
Dropped points midweek for leaders Appleby in a derby game against Kirkby Stephen, followed by a thumping 6-0 win for Keswick against Sedbergh & Dent United on Saturday, have boosted confidence levels in Frampton’s squad with seven games of the season remaining.
They currently lie second, four points behind Appleby with a match in hand. Keswick still have Windermere SC to play twice after a midweek game between the two teams was postponed due to bad weather; visit Appleby on April 25; and travel to Kirkoswald in their penultimate fixture on May 9.
“It’s the first time we’ve won comfortably like that for a good while,” said Frampton of Saturday’s win over Sedbergh. “When you’re playing like that it keeps you going. We’ve got a good set of games left, it’s in our own hands. It will be interesting.
“I didn’t expect Appleby to drop points against Kirkby Stephen. It’s looking like it’ll be either them, us, Windermere or Kirkoswald although they (KO) have so many games (11) to catch up.” Kirkoswald drew 1-1 at Greystoke on Tuesday.
Keswick got there in the end against Sedbergh in a game which had been goalless at half-time.
“It ended up a good win. It sounds silly but initially we struggled to get going,” said the manager.
Stand-in goalkeeper Dan Abbott had little to do but Sedbergh did cause a scare as they had a goal chalked off.
“At half-time it was a case of saying: ‘It’s up to you, lads, we know we can be better’,” said Frampton. “At our level the manager can only say so much.”
Current skipper Josh Hilton converted a penalty after a foul on Declan Robinson, who then made it 2-0.
Influential target man Stephen Moss added two more, including one excellent half-volley, while Richard Bannister netted a header and substitute Finn Cooper also scored a fine goal.
Cooper was one of three youngsters — including Isaac Beechey and Brad Fearns — who made an impact after being introduced from the bench.
Youth is being combined with experience in the Keswick squad as the season finale approaches. Forty-something Stephen Hilton started Saturday’s game and was, said Frampton, “probably man of the match”, while experienced centre half Stuart Dowson has also returned to the fold.
Keswick travel to Sedbergh & Dent for a rapid rematch on Saturday before a trip next weekend to Endmoor KGR, who beat under-strength reigning champions Wetheriggs United 9-0 on Saturday.
