NESTON came an unexpected cropper at lowly Bowdon in the Premier Division of the Cheshire County League and could now miss out on the title.

They go into their last match at home to Grappenhall this Saturday needing to win and hoping Chester Broughton Hall who currently have a dozen points advantage come unstuck at Oxton.

Neston could only muster 124 at Bowdon after winning the toss and taking first knock. Jack Smith made 49 but Bowdon cruised home by six wickets.

Oxton went under by three wickets at Didsbury. Shaaiq Choudhry contributed 43 to a 187 total by Oxton. The home side replied with 190-7. Gayan Fernando finished with 4-90.

Irby in Division Two gained a welcome five wickets victory at Congleton. Colin Gisbon with 6-64 helped dismiss the home side for 161. Andrew Williams was undefeated on 68 in the Irby reply.

Wallasey lost by 115 runs against Leigh in the Premier Division of the Liverpool and District Competition.

They opted to field after winning the toss and the visitors posted 229-8 (Neil Cross 3-50). Graham Reid top scored with 33 in the Oxton reply of 114 all out.

New Brighton drew a close encounter at Ormskirk, closing six runs adrift with one wicket intact.

Luke Proctor scored 75 and Adnan Ghaus 43. Best bowlers were Ashraf Nawab 3-33 and Andrew Evans 3-33.

Division One leaders Birkenhead Park came unstuck at home to Colwyn Bay. Park were restricted to 130 of which Adam Liu contributed 54.

Rob Houghton returned 5-43 for Park but the Welsh outfit made it by two wickets.

Bottom of the table Parkfield Liscard went under by 40 runs at Newton Le Willows where Faisal Ashraf top scored with 59.

Caldy fell by ten wickets at home to Burscough in Division Two. Jerome Groot did his best with 48 but the 104 total was an easy target for Burscough.

Birkenhead St Mary's played at St Helens Town on Sunday and were defeated by St Helens Town by six wickets.

It leaves them third bottom just above Caldy.

Zahin Mohammad made 61 for the Saints but the other batsmen had a poor day.

Upton took a low scoring Division One Cheshire League clash against Cheshire County Officers by three wickets and head the table by four points from Mobberley who over the season have picked up a costly sixteen penalty points.

Oxton Parkonians and Ellesmere Port played out a close draw the local derby in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance and both are not safe from relegation.

Will Walker hit 43 for Parks and Chris Hitchell an undefeated 40. Ellesmere Port closed ten runs behind their 190-7 declared score with three wickets intact.

Top of the table Port Sunlight in Division Two had 101 runs to spare at home to Heaton Mersey.

Tranmere Vics had to take a draw at Mossley with the home side closing 59 runs adrift with two wickets to go. Gary Francis scored 96 for Vics.

The final league matches of the season take place this coming Saturday and there are plenty of issues still to be decided.

Liverpool Competition Premier Div:- New Brighton v Northern; Southport & Birkdale v Wallasey. Div.One:- Parkfield Liscard v Northop Hall; Wigan v Birkenhead Park. Div.Two:- Birkenhead St Mary’s v Caldy.

Cheshire County League Premier Div:- Neston v Grappenhall; Oxton v Chester Broughton Hall. Div.Two:- Alvanley v Irby.

Cheshire League Div.One:- Upton v Runcorn. Div.Three:- Wirral v Trafford Metrovic.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One:- Ellesmere Port v Appleton; Haslington v Old Parkonians. Div.Two:- Holmes Chapel v Port Sunlight; Tranmere Vics v Knutsford.

Scoreboard:

Cheshire County League Premier Div:- Bowdon 125-4, Neston 124; Didsbury 190-7, Oxton 187. Div.Two:- Congleton 161, Irby 165-5.

Liverpool Competition Premier Div:- Wallasey 114, Leigh 229-8dec; Ormskirk 220-7dec, New Brighton 214-9.

Div.One:- Birkenhead Park 130, Colwyn Bay 132-8; Newton Le Willows 199-6dec, Parkfield Liscard 159.

Div.Two:- Caldy 104, Burscough 107-0; St Helens Town 130-4, Birkenhead St Mary’s 126.

Cheshire League Div.One:- Upton 76-7, Cheshire CO 75.. Div.Three:- Wirral v Winsford – result awaited.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One:- Old Parkonians 190-7dec, Ellesmere Port 180-7. Div.Two:- Mossley 156-8, Tranmere Vics 217-9dec; Port Sunlight 211-6dec, Heaton Mersey 110.