South Lakes ladies’ 1st XI were just edged out in a seven-goal thriller against Northern in the North League Division Two North West last Saturday, eventually going down to a 4-3 defeat.

Lakes, who are third-from-bottom in the table, were up against the team directly above them and they were just unable to end their losing run, which now stands at seven matches.

However, this was a spirited response from them after their ten-goal hammering at Fylde 2nd XI the previous week, ahead of what is a tough home game against second-placed Formby on Saturday.

It was a damaging weekend for South Lakes men’s 1st XI, who suffered a 4-0 home defeat against Kirkby Lonsdale in what was their first game back in the North West League Division Three North after the winter break.

As a result, they are now four points adrift of third-from-bottom Kirkby and they next face the daunting task of ending their four-game losing run at third-placed Kendal.

To round off what was a difficult afternoon for Lakes, their men’s 2nd XI went down to a 3-1 defeat at Preston 5th XI, whose goals came from Phil Bowman, Rob Ridley and Neil Lawrence.

It was a more positive day for Windermere men’s 1st XI, as they picked up arguably their best result of the season in the North League Division Two West by defeating third-placed Knutsford 3-2 on their own patch.

The hosts struck first with a deflected drag-flick, but Mere were in no mood to surrender and levelled through Will Dolman’s penalty flick after Adam Whitehead’s shot hit a foot on the line.

Whitehead then made a solo dribble along the baseline and, from the narrowest of angles, flicked the ball over the Knutsford goalkeeper to give Windermere a 2-1 half-time lead.

They claimed a third goal through Jake Sorrenson before Knutsford upped the tempo and pulled one back, then squandered the chance to draw the game with a wayward penalty flick.

Windermere ladies’ 1st XI were also victorious as they defeated Lancaster 2nd XI at home to pick up just their third win of the season in the Premier Division of the Lancashire Central League.

Midfield supremacy allowed Lucie Staniek to fire Mere ahead and Hannah Clark doubled that advantage after the interval, before Lancaster pulled a goal back in the closing stages to set up a nervy finish.

To complete a superb weekend for Windermere, their women’s 2nd XI ran out 4-1 winners in the Netherwood Development League against Carlisle 3rd XI, as Annabel Wilson scored a hat-trick before Raine Wickens capped a strong second half.