WETHERIGGS United lifted the Westmorland FA Benevolent Trophy for the third year running with a 3-0 victory over Keswick in the final at the Lakeland Radio Stadium in Kendal on Wednesday evening.

Although the Penrith club retained the silverware, their winning margin was a shade more comfortable on paper than it looked on the pitch.

Keswick settled the better of the sides in the first half and Stephen Hilton posed the first threat with a 20-yard snap shot that almost wrong-footed the Wetheriggs keeper before he readjusted late to collect.

Four minutes later, another good chance fell to Keswick when Lee Collins' corner was knocked back into the danger area and Jamie Little nodded over the top.

A physically strong Wetheriggs were always dangerous at setpieces and it took Little's goal-line clearance to deny Phil Askins' header in the 20th minute.

However, Wetheriggs remained upfield to force another corner and Steven Ainsworth's inswinger, helped by a gusting wind blowing across the pitch, took a deflection off full back Stuart Webster's head and flew past the keeper for an own goal.

Keswick remained positive and their best chance before half time came when Little got away down the right and crossed for Andy Frampton to hook a smart volley that Wills did well to palm over his bar.

But Wetheriggs were gradually gaining the ascendancy and in the 36th minute Steven Hall raced clear but was denied when Graeme Marshall saved off his legs.

Better passing football from Wetheriggs in the second half saw them exert sustained pressure and force a series of corners.

Twelve minutes into the second period Kevin Walker sprang the Keswick defence to beat the keeper but his toepoked effort rolled the wrong side of a post.

He looked grateful a minute later when the keeper up-ended him on a similar run into the box and Phil Askins slotted home the penalty award to make it 2-0.

Wetheriggs went back into their shell apart from the occasional counter-attack, but Keswick could not take advantage and Little flashed a shot over the top in front of goal and Frampton had the ball taken off his bootend as he shaped to shoot.

With five minutes remaining, Wetheriggs made the result safe, showing the superior finishing that had eluded their opponents on the night.

Exposed by another breakaway, Keswick keeper Marshall parried Peter Atkins initial shot but the loose ball fell straight to Walker, who tapped into the unguarded net.

Appleby are through to the final of the High Sheriff's Cup - the Westmorland League's Division 1 knockout competition - after beating Ambleside United 4-3 after extra time.

It was not one of Appleby's better displays and they were a bag of nerves at the start of the semi-final played at neutral Ullswater on Saturday.

Ambleside took advantage to storm into a 2-0 lead and Jordan Connerton was to go on and scored a hat-trick for them, but to no avail.

Instead Appleby fought back on to level terms before the break. A John Coward free kick pulled one back before half time and just before the interval Nicky Slee met a ball played through a crowded area and netted the equaliser with his left-foot snap shot Ambleside had the better of the second half overall, but lost their keeper Harvey Upton when he cut an ankle quite badly, needing six stitches, after sliding in for a ball with Appleby's Steve Wharton, who was cautioned for the challenge, though Ambleside felt it should have been red.

Appleby never seriously tested the substitute keeper Matthew Bland and Ambleside went 3-2 up when Connerton cleverly turned his marker, ran unstopped in the penalty box and slotted in.

Once again Appleby came back to level the scores as Neil Dean burst through on goal. Although the keeper parried his first shot, the ball came back to Dean and he scored at the second attempt.

Appleby keeper Paul Crawford made two crucial point-blank saves to keep his side in the argument as the tie moved into extra time.

In the first period Appleby's Richard Faustino was fouled on the edge of the box. He got up and took the free kick himself and from the cross, team-mate Thomas Armstrong's overhead kick was fumbled over the line.

Appleby clung on to their 4-3 lead and will now meet Kendal County, who beat Greystoke 8-1 at Shap, in next month's final.

Appleby manager 'Jock' Nugent said: "We didn't play that well on the day, but we got out of jail."

Kendal County's 8-1 win over Greystoke at Shap took them smoothly into the High Sheriff's final, and sees them fighting on three trophy fronts with the League Championship run-in and a Westmorland Senior Cup final appearance also to come.

County are 11 points clear in the First Division table at present. Their nearest pursuers Wetheriggs United and Ambleside United, who are separated by a single point in second and third, have both played three games fewer than the leaders.

Hotshot Jamie Close again came off the subs' bench on Saturday and claimed his second hat-trick of the week.

County went ahead when Gary Baker beat the offside trap to round the keeper. A second goal came quickly as Anthony Pearce reacted quickest in the goalmouth to toepoke home and Gary Taylor converted Baker's pass to make it 3-0 before Greystoke pulled one back.

After soaking up Greystoke pressure early in the second half, County went back on the attack and Taylor teed up Craig Walmsley to make it 4-1 before Close's introduction brought a flurry of goals. He headed home a Walmsley free kick, fired in a firm shot from close range and, for his third, netted when offered a second attempt by the keeper.

Another substitute Steve Cross completed the scoring from the penalty spot after he was tripped in the box.

County manager Dave Chambers said: "We are showing a steely element to our game that others doubted we possessed at times this season and it's great to reach another final and see the players once again rise to the challenge."