RADCLIFFE CC captain Michael Farley says his team is heading in the right direction.

The club has not employed a professional for the last three campaigns and are busily working hard to clear long-term debts.

On the field, the team is winless, currently props up the Greater Manchester League Division Two B table and suffered their sixth defeat of the season on Saturday, at home to Edenfield.

But Farley, in his second year as captain, is adamant things are not as bleak as they may appear on the outside.

“The lads are sick of me saying it but we’re getting closer, we’re improving every week,” he told the Radcliffe Times.

“We have been a bit unlucky at times, things haven’t been going for us, which happens when you’re down there.

“But I feel there’s more to come from us, we’ve got a very young side – five of the team on Saturday were 20 or under – and no pro, so we always felt coming into the season avoiding relegation would class as a successful year for us.”

Batting first, they fell to defeat by five wickets in Saturday’s match, failing to set a defendable target as they were bowled out for 164 despite an unbeaten 78 from Farley’s brother, Dan.

“That’s the best he has ever batted, it was a chanceless innings” added the captain.

“And Dan bowled well too, we just didn’t take the early wickets we needed, or break the big partnership we needed to as we felt we were at least 20 runs short when we batted.

“Disappointing though it was to lose there’s no shame in being beaten by a good team, which Edenfield are. We’ll move on and rally round each other, everyone is chipping in and helping each other.

“The morale is the best I have seen while I’ve been captain – we have had a difficult few years, with good times and bad, but we just need a few results to go our way.

“Hopefully that will start this weekend with our league and cup double-header at South West Manchester.”