First against a strong Lytham A team and with 4 players missing we fought hard and bowled and fielded very well. Michael Smith, Joe Jones and skipper Mitch Bolus bowling well and only a late flurry by the final pair hoisted the total to a good one. We then batted poorly, lost wickets regularly and didnt look to score or rotate the strike as Lytham applied pressure with attacking fields, too attacking at times. Mitch Bolus and Robert Fyshe batted well at the start.

We then had nearly a month without a game but the practice the lads put in would hopefully pay off against Great Eccleston in what was a great game of cricket decided on the last ball. We batted well a much improved and more positive performance than against Lytham with boundaries being hit and positive running. We amassed 265, a competitive total. Again a couple of careless wickets hindered the total. Mitch Bolus top scored and James Remnant (on debut) and John Cotton also batted well. At the end of pair 4 Great Eccleston were 238 still 28 behind. The highlight was a 4 wickets in one over, including hat-trick bowling performance by the excellent Jamie Manley who showed what can be achieved by bowling straight, all 4 wickets clean bowled. Tyler Douthwaite and Jake Halliwell-Fletcher also bowled well. However in the last couple of overs the lads didn't quite know how to get over the line and eventually great Eccleston won off the last ball. We made all the running in the game and individually performed well but as a team just were found wanting at the end but the experience will help in the future. Anyone who saw the game will confirm the high standard both teams achieved.

I have no doubt a couple of victories are around the corner.

The lads have been superb. They are visibly improving every week and the enthusiasm and commitment they show make it a pleasure to manage them. If the same level of progress continues over the season we will have found many future cricketers for the club I have no doubt.

Neil Bradley