Otley came away with two points from a well fought game at Cross Green against Kirkstall Educational.
On a wicket that was being described before the match as 'a road', Liam Mulligan and Jamie Wilkinson took the new ball, and Wilkinson quickly induced an edge from Mickey Missett, with Tom Maston taking the catch.
At the other end, however, Mulligan struggled and was replaced by Gregor Sutherland, who found the going just as tough.
He would have been right to feel aggrieved when his third over was hit for 25 after Tony Lazarus spilled two opportunities to remove the vistors' key batsman.
Mick Gray and Declan Adams were soon into the attack and began to slow the scoring rate.
Gray picked up a wicket as the batsmen tried to keep up with the early rate, and after reaching his hundred, Kirkstall's opener was run out after Adams executed a direct hit off his own bowling.
The rest of vistors' batting line-up offered little as Wilkinson returned to pick up a further three wickets whilst Gray completed his own 4-for.
234 looked very gettable considering the start the visitors had made, and Lazarus and Keith Pullan began the chase well.
Pullan was eventually the first wicket to fall as he played on from the bowling of Holly Richardson for 21, but Lazarus and Charlie Davy quickly got into their stride, taking one over for 26.
A change of bowling saw Lazarus adjudged LBW, whilst Sutherland fell two balls later when he was bowled by an almost unplayable delivery.
Mulligan arrived at the crease, and along with Davy he kept the scoreboard ticking over until the left-hander picked out a fielder with a drive that on another day would have flown to the boundary.
That brought Chris Keddle to the crease, but his innings was ended by an unbelievable catch in the covers.
Mulligan and Wilkinson fell soon after and it looked as if James Tebby and captain Gray would have to see the rest of the innings out for a draw.
However, aided by 57 extras in the innings and some aggressive stroke play, the two right-handers started to ignite dreams of a famous victory.
Richardson returned from the cemetery end with three overs left and bowled Gray meaning that Tebby and Maston were left to see out the final couple of overs to pick up two points.
Tebby finished unbeaten on 44 as the home side ended on 224 for 8.
Mark Wilkinson returns next week to captain the side as they take on last year's champions Steeton at Cross Green.
Kirkstall Educational 2nd XI 239 (M.Gray 4-46, J.Wilkinson 4-61)
Otley 2nd XI 224-8 (J.Tebby 44*)
The full scorecard can be found here.
Friday 29 April 2011
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Promotion beckons for Chester FC
Yesterday, I spent my Easter Monday afternoon at Kellamergh Park, the home of AFC Fylde. Throughout the season I have been providing match highlights and post-match interviews for the club's website, and yesterday marked the end of the regular season for the Coasters, with a fixture against Chester FC.
Chester are currently playing in their inaugral season and have impressed in the new surroundings of the Evo-Stik Division One North.
They went into the match knowing a win could ensure them a maiden title if other results went their way, and almost 1000 fans converged on the small town of Kirkham to cheer their team on to what could turn out to be a famous victory.
Chester FC were formed last year after ex-Football League side Chester City were wound up in March 2010. A phoenix club was formed by fans and City's former ground, the Deva Stadium, was leased to the new club by the council.
The club then applied for league status, and were accepted into the eighth tier of English football, where they would face teams such as Radcliffe Borough, Cammell Laird and, of course, Fylde; a far cry from their days in the higher echelons of the English football pyramid.
Since the start of the season, Neil Young's side have been the standout performers in the league, and by the end of February were twelve points clear at the top of the league. However, after a poor run of form through March, their lead was cut to just one point by Skelmersdale United. Both sides have since dropped points, with Chester going into their penultimate game of the season at Fylde with a three point lead over their rivals in the race for automatic promotion.
Fylde themselves have also had a good season, and went into the match sitting in 4th position and assured of a play-off place regardless of the result. However, with the play-off semi-finals consisting of only one match, a win was imperative if they were to stand any chance of gaining home advantage for next week's match.
Kelham O'Hanlon rested full-back Matt Lawlor whilst Matt Mahoney, Joe Booth and top-scorer Tom Cahill all missed out through injury, meaning Kevin Townson again led the line for the home team.
After 35 minutes of little incident, it was former Macclesfield and Rochdale striker Townson who gave Fylde a shock lead as he fired home from the edge of the box after Paul Jarvis' free-kick was blocked.
Chester looked devoid of ideas, and with news filtering through that Skelmersdale were 3-1 up at half-time in their match at Prescot Cables, their large hoards of supporters were beginning to become a bit twitchy.
Young brought on Chris Simm at half-time, and he began to provide a spark that was missing in the first-half as his pace began to cause the home side's defence a few problems.
The second-half was 17 minutes old when Chester finally got the equaliser they deserved when Michael Powell headed in a corner from close range. It was the midfielder's third goal in as many games, although the Fylde players complained ferociously that goalkeeper Lewis Edge had been fouled as he tried to come and collect the ball.
Four minutes later Chester were in front as Michael Wilde headed in his 37th goal of the season. The goal brought about scenes of jubilation with players, staff and fans all joining in with the celebrations.
Conceding two goals in such a short space of time knocked the stuffing out of Fylde as they struggled to forge any attacks of note due to the strong wind that was aiding their visitors.
With time ticking down the visitors made the points safe as Robbie Booth fired home from close range, and minutes later the referee blew the final whistle to spark a pitch invasion of around half the travelling supporters.
Skelmersdale hung on for a victory that meant that Chester cannot yet be 100% sure of promotion, but with one game to play they have a three point lead at the top of the table and have a far superior goal difference.
Chester now need just a point to guarantee promotion when they travel to Garforth Town on Friday afternoon, and I don't feel anyone would begrudge their fans a first title since City won the Conference in 2004.
As for Fylde, the result leaves them 5th in the table and almost assured of playing away at Skelmersdale next Monday afternoon, with victory setting up another away tie in the final, against either Chorley or Curzon Ashton.
After the match, O'Hanlon spoke to me about the game and the forthcoming play-offs:
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| Chester have consistently been the most impressive team in the Evo-Stik Division One North this season |
They went into the match knowing a win could ensure them a maiden title if other results went their way, and almost 1000 fans converged on the small town of Kirkham to cheer their team on to what could turn out to be a famous victory.
Chester FC were formed last year after ex-Football League side Chester City were wound up in March 2010. A phoenix club was formed by fans and City's former ground, the Deva Stadium, was leased to the new club by the council.
The club then applied for league status, and were accepted into the eighth tier of English football, where they would face teams such as Radcliffe Borough, Cammell Laird and, of course, Fylde; a far cry from their days in the higher echelons of the English football pyramid.
Since the start of the season, Neil Young's side have been the standout performers in the league, and by the end of February were twelve points clear at the top of the league. However, after a poor run of form through March, their lead was cut to just one point by Skelmersdale United. Both sides have since dropped points, with Chester going into their penultimate game of the season at Fylde with a three point lead over their rivals in the race for automatic promotion.
Fylde themselves have also had a good season, and went into the match sitting in 4th position and assured of a play-off place regardless of the result. However, with the play-off semi-finals consisting of only one match, a win was imperative if they were to stand any chance of gaining home advantage for next week's match.
Kelham O'Hanlon rested full-back Matt Lawlor whilst Matt Mahoney, Joe Booth and top-scorer Tom Cahill all missed out through injury, meaning Kevin Townson again led the line for the home team.
After 35 minutes of little incident, it was former Macclesfield and Rochdale striker Townson who gave Fylde a shock lead as he fired home from the edge of the box after Paul Jarvis' free-kick was blocked.
Chester looked devoid of ideas, and with news filtering through that Skelmersdale were 3-1 up at half-time in their match at Prescot Cables, their large hoards of supporters were beginning to become a bit twitchy.
Young brought on Chris Simm at half-time, and he began to provide a spark that was missing in the first-half as his pace began to cause the home side's defence a few problems.
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| Townson gave Fylde the lead with his first goal in 14 matches |
Four minutes later Chester were in front as Michael Wilde headed in his 37th goal of the season. The goal brought about scenes of jubilation with players, staff and fans all joining in with the celebrations.
Conceding two goals in such a short space of time knocked the stuffing out of Fylde as they struggled to forge any attacks of note due to the strong wind that was aiding their visitors.
With time ticking down the visitors made the points safe as Robbie Booth fired home from close range, and minutes later the referee blew the final whistle to spark a pitch invasion of around half the travelling supporters.
Skelmersdale hung on for a victory that meant that Chester cannot yet be 100% sure of promotion, but with one game to play they have a three point lead at the top of the table and have a far superior goal difference.
Chester now need just a point to guarantee promotion when they travel to Garforth Town on Friday afternoon, and I don't feel anyone would begrudge their fans a first title since City won the Conference in 2004.
As for Fylde, the result leaves them 5th in the table and almost assured of playing away at Skelmersdale next Monday afternoon, with victory setting up another away tie in the final, against either Chorley or Curzon Ashton.
After the match, O'Hanlon spoke to me about the game and the forthcoming play-offs:
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Wilkinson half-century sees off Harden
The skipper won the toss and chose to bowl on a green wicket that seemed to have missed out on the two weeks of solid sunshine that had been enjoyed in the rest of the country.
Liam Mulligan and Jamie Wilkinson were entrusted with the new ball, and it was Wilkinson who picked up the first scalp after Harden’s opener Allison chipped a full ball to debutant Lewis Bolton, who held onto a good catch.
Despite losing an early wicket, the home side’s young batsmen were looking to play some big shots and push singles.
However, this proved to be their downfall, as a superb ‘dummy’ from Charlie Davy confused the batsmen and left Paul Wilkinson with the relatively simple task of running out opener Wear for 33.
Harden lost their third wicket as Jamie Wilkinson swung one away from the new batsman and clipped the top of his off-stump.
Wickets continued to tumble as this time Davy ran out new batsman Trees for 9 to further show why he won the 2nd XI fielding prize in 2010, whilst Wilkinson picked up his third wicket as Bolton took his second catch of the match.
The final five wickets all fell to Mick Gray as Harden were bowled out for 170, which seemed a competitive if not a daunting total.
Otley’s reply began well with George Huntley and Graeme Wolfenden starting with boundaries, but Huntley soon fell after inexplicably shouldering arms to a straight ball when on ten.
Wolfenden and Paul Wilkinson soon followed him back to the pavilion after both were adjudged LBW, leaving the visitors on 34-3.
Captain Wilkinson and Bolton added 42 for the fourth wicket before the debutant was caught in the deep for 36.
Otley were soon five wickets down after Davy was run out after being left high and dry by his captain after a mix-up which saw both batsmen finish at the same end of the wicket.
Number 7 Mulligan dug in and supported Wilkinson before being bowled for 8 by a good Yorker which brought Jamie Wilkinson to the crease to join his captain.
The two shared in an unbroken stand of 62 to see Otley home with more than seven overs remaining.
Otley return to Cross Green next week to take on Kirkstall Educational.
Harden 2nd XI 170 (M .Gray 5-34, J. Wilkinson 3-75)
Otley 2nd XI 172-6 (M. Wilkinson 55*, L. Bolton 36, J. Wilkinson 31*)
The full scorecard can be found here.
Monday 11 April 2011
England's future stars shine in Championship openers
High temperatures and large crowds greeted the start of the County Championship this week, and some exciting matches meant that those crowds may well be back for more throughout the season.
One of the main talking points was the early-season form of some of England’s brightest young cricketers. If these players continue their progression, then the future looks very bright for the national team.
The most eye-catching performance came from a man who has already tasted international honours. Adil Rashid’s match figures of 11-114 in Yorkshire’s nine-wicket win over relegation favourite’s Worcestershire served as a reminder to England’s selectors that he has the talents to step up into the test or one-day team if a second spinner was required to support Graeme Swann. The amount of wickets that he took with his well disguised googly should give him the edge over some of his rivals, whilst his lower order batting also trumps that of James Tredwell, and if his form continues then he has a chance of featuring for Andrew Strauss’ team this summer.
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| Rashid gave a timely reminder to the England selectors after picking up 11 wickets at New Road |
Elsewhere in Division One, 19 year-old Ben Stokes made quite the impression with both bat and ball as he followed up career-best figures of 6-68 with an unbeaten 135 as Durham drew with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. The New Zealand-born all-rounder had already played for the England Lions, and has been compared to Andrew Flintoff by some former players. He almost completed a remarkable match by hitting six sixes in an over, but after Liam Dawson’s first five deliveries were dispatched over the rope, the final ball only yielded a single.
In Division Two, Sam Northeast hit the first century of the Championship season against Essex at Chelmsford. His 112 proved to be a match-winning knock in a low scoring game between last year’s two relegated sides, and at 21 the future looks bright for a player who has been with Kent since the age of 13.
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| Northeast hit the first century of the 2011 Championship season |
In opposition to Northeast was a teenager who surprised everyone over the weekend. 17-year old Reece Topley’s match figures of 7-114 were hugely impressive for someone making their Championship debut. At 6’7”, the left-armer has all the credentials to become an excellent bowler for both Essex and England.
Despite the impressive performances of many of England’s youngsters, some of the old guard showed that they weren’t ready to be upstaged quite yet.
Gerard Brophy’s innings of 177 not out proved to be the backbone of Yorkshire’s success, whilst Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard picked up his third career hat-trick in his side’s win against Glamorgan.
The second round of county fixtures begin on Thursday when last year’s top two sides, Nottinghamshire and Somerset, make their first appearances of the season, whilst Lords hosts its first match of the season as Middlesex take on Essex.
Friday 1 April 2011
Swinging Balls
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| Swinging Balls is available on the 1st of every month |
For the April edition I have written a preview to the 2011 County Championship season, whilst also publishing the first entry of my 'Diary of a Club Cricketer', in which I will write monthly entries surrounding my time at Otley Cricket Club.
Feel free to read both, and if you are interested in writing for the magazine, contact Rohan Kallicharan.
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