KENDAL County took the season's first honours by lifting the Westmorland Invitation Trophy after a 3-0 win over Windermere, the team they beat in last season's Senior Cup showpiece.

County club skipper James Williams, who came on as substitute, stepped up to lift the trophy, a duty that his dismissal had precluded in the Senior Cup.

Gusting winds and driving rain down the pitch at Planet Conservatories Stadium on Wednesday played a role in shaping the final and County used the testing conditions to better advantage.

Windermere had the wind behind them in the first half, but too many high balls forward were blown off target and they clearly missed the suspended Jamie Parkinson, their leading scorer of last term.

Goalmouth thrills at either end were in short supply until five minutes before the break when County broke the stalemate.

Neil Hayton got away down the left and crossed for Dan Johnson to turn a flick-on header towards the far post.

The Windermere keeper seemed to have the bouncing ball covered but it slipped through his grasp, bounced on the post and Gary Taylor was following to knock in the rebound.

Given the wind's strength, shoot-on-sight was a good strategy and two minutes into the second half County, now with the force behind them, struck again with a stunning example.

When the ball broke to Paul Grattan 30 yards out he let fly with a thunderous drive that winged its way into the top left-hand corner.

Windermere hopes of getting back into the contest dimmed when Andy Wilkin was sent off for handling Taylor's header on the line.

Jamie Close sent the spot-kick into the corner, though Mario Capaccio got a hand to, but could not stop, the ball.

Sam Fletcher went close to giving his side a goal they probably deserved, but his curling effort from inside the penalty area cracked against the post.

Otherwise, set-pieces were Windermere's main threat. Although Callum Thwaites twice stroked free kicks around the wall County keeper Ollie Parry saved well, Last season Coniston won 9-0 at Greystoke but this time they suffered a second successive league defeat - one that imperils any title aspirations - losing 3-2.

Hard-working Greystoke left the visitors chasing the game as they went 2-0 up. Coniston's answer came through Peter Blair, who glanced Timmy Fletcher's whipped-in cross into the far corner.

Both sides had a player sent off and Coniston's Paul Walker stroked in a shot from the edge of the box to put a point in sight. Shortly before the final whistle they were punished for losing possession as Greystoke broke quickly to snatch the winner.

Lunesdale United achieved their first league win and feel they might have turned the corner after a 5-3 victory at Sedbergh Wanderers.

A hard start playing the top four sides from last season has not helped but Johnny Lowis's goal touch served them well as he rattled in a four-timer and Ben Jackson supplied the other.

After Lunesdale went ahead, Sedbergh went 2-1 up but two goals in five minutes saw Lunesdale nudge ahead and a couple more after the break before Sedbergh's third, a late penalty, did the business. Sedbergh's scorers were Chris Wheatley (2) and Eliot Oxley.

Centre-half Dave Ryding read the game well for Lunesdale.

University studies claimed four of Appleby first-team players this week, not great news going into a match against in-form champions Wetheriggs United.

In the end although Appleby lost 5-0, three late goals made it look worse than it was.

It was not until just before half time that Wetheriggs went ahead when Martyn Currie outpaced the defence and crossed for Phil Askins to head home.

Wetheriggs quickly went 2-0 up in the second half thanks to Stephen Hall's glancing header. Alan Hill, Carl Pratt and Josh Hall could not take chances for Appleby, and Wetheriggs then put the result beyond grasp with three strikes in 12 minutes.

Windermere finished with 10 men after Sam Fletcher was sent off, but ran out 5-1 winners over Kendal Town Reserves with goals from Dave Ramsey, Callum Thwaites, Adam Thwaites (2) and substitute Ross White.

At 2-0, Town got on the scoresheet with a penalty but Windermere stretched away in the second half with full back Tim Miles, who had two assists, their man of the match.

Burneside dominated but Ibis took the points in a 2-1 victory. The visitors had plenty of chances but their shots skimmed the bar or post - and when they were on target veteran Martin Bell in the Ibis goal pulled off fine saves.

Ibis went ahead when Steve Longcake's cross dropped on bar and Mark Carradus poked in the rebound.

Ibis strikers found gaps at the back at Burneside pushed up. A three-man move saw the ball laid back for Stephen Knowles to volley home.

Martin O'Sullivan came off the bench and pulled a goal back for Burneside, who hit the woodwork afterwards.

A brace of goals from each of three Ambleside United players featured in a 6-3 victory over Kendal County Reserves.

Sixteen-year-old Mike Barron headed home in a challenge with the keeper but Ambleside then found themselves 3-1 down as County came back strongly.

Gary Wilson slid in to convert a cross to put Ambleside back in the hunt at 3-2 and a Zach Clark volley put them on level terms.

Barron scored a strange fourth goal. Flagged for offside, the referee played advantage but the County keeper put the ball down thinking a free kick had been awarded and Barron nipped in to knock it in the net.

Wilson rifled in a fifth and Clark completed the comeback.

Staveley United narrowly missed out on three points with the last kick of the game in a 3-3 draw at home to Penrith Rangers.

After conceding a first-minute goal, Staveley's persistence paid off when two strikes from Lee Wilson took them into a 2-1 lead.

Penrith equalised but straight afterwards a good individual goal by Andy Williams restored Staveley's advantage In the dying seconds Penrith were allowed a free shot and although keeper Sam Ridding saved, one of the visitors knocked in the loose ball.