FOURTH-PLACED Radcliffe are targeting revenge when they entertain Central Lancashire League Championship leaders Crompton on Saturday.

The Homer Street outfit fell to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat to the table-toppers two months ago — and skipper Chris Berry wants “to put that right” this time around.

Crompton, who lost to second-from-bottom Werneth at the weekend, skittled Radcliffe for 85 in May.

And while Radcliffe head into Saturday’s game 18 points off the Championship pace following a 10-run defeat at second-placed Middleton, Berry is not giving up on the title.

He said: “We are just over halfway through the season and there are 11 games left so we still have an outside chance of winning the league.

“We are not giving up. Our aim is to at least finish in the top two. But we need to make amends for what happened last time and gain a positive result.”

Professional Raheel Majeed smashed 117 — his highest score of the season — and took four wickets as Radcliffe went down to Middleton.

Despite the reverse, Berry was impressed with his team’s efforts — especially those of Majeed and second teamer Luke Entwistle.

Berry said: “The overall team performance was good. There were plenty of positives. Majeed has been consistently getting into the 50s but that was his first big score for us this season.

“Playing on a good deck he proved his class, punishing anything loose — and he pulled them around the park. From the sidelines it was good to watch.

“For a young lad, Entwistle bowled really well and I am pleased with his display.

“I have got every intention of picking him again this week because he is a great little fielder, he is good to have in the team and he is learning from the senior players.”

Opening pair Zain Tahir (20) and George Walker (10) made a steady start for Middleton before professional Ernest Kemm (49), captain Grant Jones (37) and Rhys Tierney (41) put the hosts in a good position. Middleton closed on 217-9.

Majeed was the pick of the Radcliffe bowlers, taking 4-69, and Saif Ur Rehman snapped up 3-62 as the home side posted 217.

Usman Malik hit 36 before being run out and Rashid Riaz added 19 as Radcliffe looked to chase down the target. And with Maheed at the crease, success looked possible.

But as rain fell, a batting collapse saw Rizwan Javid, Ur Rehman and Berry fall without scoring. Radcliffe posted just 26 runs for the last seven wickets, thanks mainly to the quality bowling of Michael Pritchard and Kemm.

Pritchard took 5-32 and Kemm helped himself to 4-79 as Radcliffe were removed for 207.

RADCLIFFE captain Chris Berry will have revenge on his mind when his fourth-placed side entertain league leaders Crompton on Saturday.

The Homer Street outfit fell to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat to the table-toppers earlier in the season and the skipper wants “to put that right” this time around.

Crompton, who surprisingly lost to second-from-bottom Werneth at the weekend, bowled Radcliffe out for 85 with professional Raheel Majeed hitting 50 of those runs in May.

And while Radcliffe head into the game 18 points off the Championship pace following a narrow 10-run defeat at second-placed Middleton, Berry is not giving up on the title just yet.

“We are just over halfway through the season and there are 11 games left so we still have an outside chance of winning the league,” he said.

“We are certainly not giving up. Our aim is to at least finish in the top two.

“But we need to make amends for what happened last time and hopefully gain a positive result.”

Despite the best efforts of Majeed, Radcliffe fell just short of victory at Middleton.

The professional smashed his way to his first century and highest score of the season, and also took four wickets, but was unable to inspire the one-time Central Lancashire League leaders to back-to-back victories following their success against Milnrow a fortnight ago.

Despite the reverse, skipper Berry was impressed with his team’s efforts especially that of Majeed and young second teamer Luke Entwistle.

“The overall team performance was good. There were plenty of positives,” he said.

“Majeed has been consistently getting into the 50s but that was his first proper big score for us this season.

“Playing on a good deck he proved his class, punishing anything lose and he pulled them around the park.

“From the sidelines it was good to watch.

“For a young lad Entwistle bowled really well and I’m pleased with his display.

“I’ve got every intention of picking him again this week because he’s a great little fielder, he’s good to have in the team and he’s learning from the senior players.”

Opening pair Zain Tahir (20) and George Walker (10) made a steady start for Middleton before professional Ernest Kemm (49), captain Grant Jones (37) and Rhys Tierney (41) put the hosts firmly in control of their innings.

Majeed was the pick of the Radcliffe bowlers taking 4-69, while Saif Ur Rehman also took 3-62 as the home side posted 217.

Usman Malik hit 36 before being run out and Rashid Riaz also added 19 as Radcliffe looked to chase down the target.

And when Majeed took to the crease a win looked possible as the Radcliffe professional smashed his way to 117.

However, as the rain fell a batting collapse saw Rizwan Javid, Ur Rehman and Berry all out for ducks, as the Homer Street men posted just 26 runs for the last seven wickets, thanks mainly to the quality bowling of Michael Pritchard and Kemm.

Pritchard took 5-32 and Kemm also helped himself to 4-79 as Radcliffe were skittled for 207.