A stirring comeback and dogged defensive display kept Keswick in title contention as the JMP Foodservice Westmorland League Division I season heads for a fascinating final few games.
Keswick had beaten Sedbergh & Dent United 6-0 a fortnight ago in their continuing quest to overhaul league leaders Appleby. But in the rapid return fixture at Dent on Saturday, Mike Frampton’s men were given a sterner test by the same opponents.
Sedbergh peppered their visitors with long balls and went ahead midway through the first half, only for Keswick midfielder Matt Rankin to swiftly equalise.
However, Sedbergh then regained the lead just before the interval. And Frampton admitted: “To be honest at half-time I thought we would struggle to get any points.”
Yet he utilised the rolling substitutions at his disposal and re-introduced 42-year-old Stephen Hilton, who helped the away side regain lost shape.
Rankin’s second of the match made it 2-2 before Hilton scored what proved to be the winner with around 25 minutes remaining.
And it was that final period of the game which pleased Frampton most.
“I was really happy with the attitude second half,” he said. “The last quarter was a real good defensive performance. There were a lot of long balls and we defended well. It was probably one of our best performances without playing good football. We just showed a lot of character in the second half to get the lead again and pull it around.
“If we’re going to be there or thereabouts we’ve got to come through the types of games where you just scrap it out.”
Keeper John Philips had made two crucial saves, the experienced back four of Sam Reilly, Stuart Dowson, Ewan Clarke and Lewis Cumber held firm, Rankin turned in a fine display and Alfie West also gave an outstanding performance.
Keswick visit Endmoor KGR this Saturday and Frampton is expecting another tough game. His side are just a point behind Appleby, the two sides each have six matches remaining and they meet at the Eden club’s Broad Close home on Tuesday.
“If we both get results this weekend it’s a big game although there are a lot of big games after that,” said Frampton. “They could beat us or we could beat them and we’ve still both got to play (fellow title contenders) Windermere twice. There are no guarantees, it’s such a tight league.”
Fixtures
Saturday
Westmorland League, Division I: Kirkby Lonsdale v Appleby. Endmoor KGR v Keswick. Ibis v Penrith AFC Reserves. Sedbergh & Dent Utd v Kirkoswald. Windermere SC v Greystoke. Division II: Appleby Res v Ambleside Utd. Kendal Utd Res v Shap. Division III: Endmoor KGR Res v Braithwaite. Eden Thistle v Eden Utd. Division IV: Burton Thistle v Brough FC Seniors. Carnforth Rangers A v Millhead. Greystoke Second v Burneside Res.
Mason & Freeman Cup semi-final: Kirkoswald Res v Ullswater Utd.
Peter Daws Memorial Shield: Alston Moor FC v Kendal County Res.
Austin Wren Cup: Wetheriggs Utd Res v Sedbergh & Dent Utd Res.
Tuesday
Westmorland League, Division I: Appleby v Keswick. Greystoke v Wetheriggs Utd. Ibis v Sedbergh & Dent Utd. Windermere SC v Kirkby Stephen. Division IV: Burneside Res v Sedbergh & Dent Utd Res. Kirkby Lonsdale Res v Millhead.
Wednesday
Westmorland FA Benevolent Trophy final (7-30pm kick-off, at Parkside Road, Kendal): Penrith AFC Reserves v Kirkoswald.
Westmorland League, Division II: Appleby Res v Kirkoswald Res. Burneside v Kendal Utd Res. Ibis Res v Ambleside Utd. Penrith AFC Academy v Ullswater Utd. Staveley Utd v Shap. Division III: Kendal County Res v Alston Moor FC.
Division IV: Greystoke Second v Wetheriggs Utd Res.
Peter Daws Memorial Shield semi-final, second leg: Endmoor KGR Res v Lunesdale Utd.
Austin Wren Cup: Burton Thistle v Carnforth Rangers A.
