lossop CC v Woodbank CC Walkden Cup 1st Round. This 1st round encounter between two sides expected to be strong prospects in this years Lancs County League was always going to be a close encounter and so it proved to be. Unfortunately for Woodbank, their depth of batting deserted them in the final over of the game. Needing just 9 to win with 2 wickets in hand they came up 6 short of Glossops 192 first innings total with notable contributions from Moss and Bates with the latter scoring a well deserved half century before falling on the last ball of the first innings. Young 15 yr old bowler Ryan Barker was the shining light for Woodbank, bowling a sensible line and length and getting movement in the air and off the seam to finish with credible figures of 1-30 off his allotted 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Glossop professional Lee Dale who was just lioking comfortable before being bowled by the young medium Pacer with an absoloute jaffer whiched jagged back from iutside off stump to dislodge his middle stump. Dale has a history of scoring big runs against aWoodbank so this was a real filip for the Stafford Street side. Woidbanks innings started watchfully but solid, with Bret Collins and Harry Dearden giving the visitors an opening partnership of 60 before the young Lancashire prospect was bowled after being tied down for a few overs. Professional Steve Dearden came in and his miserable start to the season with the bat continued when he was stumped after scoring only 13. Nick Haynes at number 4 was looking comfortable and keeping the scoreboard ticking along while Bret Collins was constructing a solid innings in a very watchful manner before holing out to mid off for 56. The run rate was now up to 6 per over so skipper John Chapman strode to the wicket and after hitting 2 very large straight sixes he fell to a great running catch by opposing professional Dale who was making a huge impression in the field. At 150-5 with 8 overs left l, the game was proving to be a nailbiter and so it was to be. After Haynes fell to a phenomenal caught and bowled, Mark Hamnett was controversially given out stumped. Only 3 wickets left and Woodbank were up against it. Saj Nawaz brought the game closer with 12 off the penultimate over before being clean bowled goung for another maximum. Ryan Barker meanwhile was nudging 1s and 2s at the other end. 9 required off the last over but it was too many as Kennedy and Leech fell in the last over to leave Woodbank 6 runs short with 2 balls remaining. So Woodbanks defence of the Walkfen Cup came to an end but a big push to re-attain pole position in the league re- starts this coming weekend with games against Roe Green and Flowery Field after a week without a league game.