A SEE-saw contest saw South Lakes Men 2 and Windermere Men 2 settle for a share of the spoils as the derby clash in North West League Division Five ended in a 4-4 draw.

The hosts went 2-0 up, only to be pegged back by Windermere. The away side then led twice, only for South Lakes to level on each occasion.

Mere dominated the first half for long spells but South Lakes took their chances from a short corner and a breakaway overlap to go ahead.

A re-shuffle at half-time then sparked a comeback from Windermere, which took them into a 3-2 lead.

Jamie Hill got their first and skipper Jason Balmer doubled up for the visitors to edge them in front.

South Lakes then equalised from a short corner strike by Tommy Bowers, only for Teddy Ferguson to give Mere the lead a second time when he finished off good work by Michael Shields.

Mere looked likely winners, but there was still time for some late drama as South Lakes levelled in the last minute to ensure it finished honours even.

This Saturday sees South Lakes travel to Lancaster & Morecambe Men 2 and Windermere at home to Ormskirk Men 2.

Windermere Men’s first team were no match for league leaders Preston 2 in North Division Two (West), going down 4-1 to the away side.

After a tight and vigorously-contested opening spell, Preston scored in open play and then twice in quick succession through penalty corners.

A fourth Preston goal in the second half put paid to any thoughts of a Mere revival, but they kept on battling and managed to reduce the arrears with a penalty corner drag flick by skipper Will Dolman.

This week, Windermere are away to Lytham St Anne’s.

Windermere Ladies were edged out 2-1 in a tight encounter away to Longbridge in the Lancashire Central League Premier Division.

Chloe Balmer gave Windermere Ladies an early lead, with Caitlin Taylor and Hannah Clark working the ball up the wing for Balmer.

Longridge only drew level near the end of the half when they managed to overload the Mere defence.

Players’ player of the match Abbey Carroll then pressured Longridge with a series of searching passes and Mere were unlucky not to score again from resulting short corners.

Meanwhile, Felicity Aynsley saved a goal on the line for Mere before Longridge got their winner with a strike from top D.

Windermere’s women are at home to Fylde this Saturday.