Longton scrape into lead

With just one game left of a topsy-turvy season there are still issues at the top and bottom of the table to resolve in the Waterworld North Staffs and South Cheshire Premier League.

Little Stoke’s 20 points from the win in their game against Wood Lane left the door slightly ajar for Longton who promptly rose to the top of the table by beating Audley by just nine runs. The lead is a tantalising two points.

Mike Longmore made a steady 33 for Longton but they lost wickets at regular intervals in the face of a superb spell by Audley’s Andy Johnson (4-66 from 28 overs).

At 104 for seven, the Longton innings was in danger of stagnating but a rapid 44 from seasoned all-rounder Andy Kenvyn ensured that Pete Wilshaw’s team at least had something to defend as they closed on 161 for nine.

Professional Roger Sillence then continued his fine form for Longton with a devastating and match-winning spell of 7-31.

Stefan Rduch put up solid resistance with 36 against his previous team but at 86 for eight the game looked over. Johnson completed a fine all-round performance as he and Dave Freeman put on 65 for the ninth wicket to put Audley within sight of victory.

But Sillence took two late wickets which could prove crucial this time next week. Longton now host relegation-favourites Leek whilst Little Stoke face a tricky derby game at local rivals and fast-improving Stone next Saturday in what should be a fascinating end to the season.

Stone have had a great second half to the season and can still mathematically win the league after they won at Hem Heath, with the home team scrambling just enough points that should see them staying up this season.

Stone had Qaiser Abbas to thank for their 31 run victory as he struck an unbeaten 81 and took four key wickets in a fine all-round performance.

He was given good back up from Luke Cheadle’s half-century with the bat and Russ Ballard’s five wickets with the ball. Hem Heath’s John Cheadle struck a fine 52 but it was in vain as Stone triumphed.

Just six points separate the bottom three clubs with Leek facing the biggest task at Longton next weekend after losing a low-scoring game at home to Porthill.

Richard Cooper and the in-form Colin Dearden both took four wickets for the Moorlands side as only Porthill’s Josh Butler put up any resistance in his side’s total of 120.

But Butler followed this up with three wickets and Mark Bengry took 4-24 as Leek struggled for runs and were eventually dismissed for just 100.

Leek are bottom but just a solitary point behind Leycett who had much the better of their crunch relegation game at Moddershall.

Derbyshire’s Dan Redfearn returned to smash an unbeaten 115 for Leycett as they declared on 221 for three, but the visitors might rue not declaring sooner as their hosts were way off the pace and settled for a draw on 153 for eight, with Chris Beech (66) once more in the runs for Modd.

Leycett’s Rob Heath and Richard White both took three wickets and Ian Boulton’s men are just five points behind their opponents.

Next week, Moddershall face a trip to Knypersley and Leycett host Audley.

One-time championship favourites Knypersley have stuttered since mid season and they lost a low-scoring game at Burslem.

Tim Goodwin’s determined 37 ensured that Knypersley reached 128, with Kevin Cockerton (5-36) and Ant Sheeran (3-34) doing the damage with the ball for Burslem.

The home side struggled in the face of an excellent spell from Darren Butler (6-44) but Josh Tittensor dug-in for an invaluable unbeaten 37 from 140 balls to see his side to a two wicket victory that keeps them in mid-table.