South Lakes men’s 1st XI’s difficult season in the North West League Division Three North came to an end with a 4-1 home defeat against midtable Rochdale last Saturday.

In a match rearranged from early February, Lakes fought hard to finish their campaign off on a high, but they couldn’t add to their tally of just three wins, as they fell to what was an 18th defeat from 22 games.

As a result, they finished second from bottom, with the six points gained against bottom club Fylde 2nd XI being all that kept them from the foot of the table, but they were 11 points adrift of tenth-placed City of Manchester 2nd XI.

South Lakes men’s 2nd XI rounded their campaign off in Division Five North North with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Windermere 2nd XI in what was a South Cumbria derby.

Lakes were effective on the counter attack, as Windermere left gaps at the back, and opened up a 2-0 lead after Kristian Devries’ opener was added to when Fergus Jackson struck following a short corner.

But Mere hit back in style, as Jamie Hill pulled a goal back through a good strike from the top of the D before Isaac Ravenhill eventually levelled the match in the closing minutes.

The point gained moved South Lakes up a place to eighth in the final standings, while Windermere rose to fourth and can finish no lower than fifth after ending the season unbeaten in seven games.

The team currently below them on goal difference, Preston 5th XI, having one final match against Ormskirk on Friday.

Windermere men’s 1st XI were up against already-promoted Preston 2nd XI as they rounded off their campaign in the North League Division Two West and gave a solid account of themselves, as they went down to a 2-1 defeat.

Mere’s man of the match Tom Maloney put the battling visitors ahead with a penalty strike and Preston had to work very hard to get themselves back into the contest.

However, the hosts eventually managed to turn the game around through late goals from Ambrose Hallett and David Thornton to claim the three points and inflict Mere’s first defeat in six.

It’s still been a positive season for Windermere, however, as they recovered from a slow start that saw them not win in their first six games to kick on after the New Year and end the year sixth in the table.