Greenmount gear up for league challenge

4:45pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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GREENMOUNT captain John Ashworth is hoping his side can go one better this season.

The Bolton League side finished runners-up last term after losing out to champions Walkden, but moved into second spot following their 13-run victory over Farnworth at the weekend and now lie 17 points behind leaders Egerton.

The Brandlesholme Road outfit entertain Bradshaw as the division reaches its halfway point on Saturday, followed by Astley Bridge 24 hours later, but Ashworth already has one eye on Greenmount’s August 2 showdown with Egerton.

“Egerton have opened up quite a gap at the top but there’s still a long way to go,” said the skipper. “We’ve just got to keep picking up results and hope others slip up.

“We play Egerton in a couple of weeks and that’s a must-win game. If we don’t win that, we could be struggling.“ Ashworth, who misses the next three games because of holiday commitments, added: “We won the Hamer Cup and came runners-up in the Lancs Knockout last season, but we’re out of both those competitions so we’re can concentrate fully on the league.”

Professional Ashar Zaidi impressed again with bat and ball as his side squeezed out Farnworth. Greenmount made 140-8 in a game reduced to 30 overs, with Zaidi leading the way with 50.

The Pakistan all-rounder (5-58) and fellow opening bowler Mark Stewart (3-68), on his return from injury, combined to end Farnworth’s resistance. In the Bolton Association, Elton took the honours in their bottom-of-the-table clash with Adlington.

Elton’s pro Steve Holt took 4-76 as the basement club were restricted to 156-6.

And captain Dexter Fitton, aided by Abdeel Ali’s unbeaten 33, steered the Leigh Lane outfit to only their second league success of the season.

Stand travelled to title-favourites Denton St Lawrence in a rain-reduced 20-over Lancashire County League match, but fell 17 runs short of pulling off a shock triumph.

Denton’s star man Paul Green hit an unbeaten 64 as the leaders posted 162-5. And that proved just enough as Stand finished on 145-9, despite the best efforts of in-form Stuart Catterall, who struck a fine 52.

Following the death of former player and benefactor George Boardman, who passed away on Monday, all three senior sides will wear black armbands this weekend.

Elsewhere in the league, Woodbank beat Denton West by 16 runs, while Prestwich’s clash with Flowery Field was a victim of the weather.

Ramsbottom continued their good run with a 29-run home win against Burnley in the Lancashire League.

The hosts looked to be in trouble when they were held to 123-8. Michael Haslam (26 not out) and Jack Walmsley (19 not out) sharing a crucial ninth-wicket partnership.

But pro Oliver Newby was in sensational form with the ball, taking 6-34 as Burnley were skittled for 94.

There was disappointment for Rammy the following day though, as they suffered a narrow one-wicket defeat at Bacup in the Twenty20 Cup.

Struggling Bury slipped up against Wythenshawe in a closely-fought Manchester Association Premier Division match.

Asif Iqbal (61) and Taylor (54) combined to help second-bottom Bury set Wythenshawe 154 for victory. That total proved insufficient as the visitors scraped home with two wickets to spare.

In Division One, fourth-placed Brooksbottom came off worse in their draw with Bolton.