EARLESTOWN Cricket Club ended the 1998 season on a high note with a double victory over Flixton on Saturday.

For the first team, it meant clinching second place in Division One B of the Manchester Association while the second team staved off the threat of finishing bottom of their section.

The firsts put Flixton into bat and lead by an inspired spell of seven wickets for 39 from Pete Houghton, Earlestown dismissed their opponents for 107. Liam Fletcher took the other three wickets.

A solid second wicket stand from Paul Lawday and Karl Allan took the reply past 50 and Town looked on course for a 20 point win.

But a steady fall of wickets left the hosts eight wickets down with 13 still required for victory.

Enter man of the moment, Houghton, who promptly despatched Flixton fast bowler Motinala for two 4s and a match clinching 6 in successive deliveries to the delight of his teammates.

The seconds completed their campaign with a trip to Flixton where they posted a workmanlike 136, the backbone of which was a fine 64 from George Davison. Paul Harrison's chipped in with a steady 34.

Town needed to bowl well to defend this total but they did not disappoint as the evergeen Bob Williams claimed six wickets to lead the charge and the hosts were all out 15 runs short of their target.

The final action of the season was a friendly at Sutton on Sunday as a century from Ian McCue helped Earlestown to post 176 for five wickets, with Dave Melling and Nigel Williams providing the main support.

The game was played in a friendly spirit but maintained its competitive edge as Sutton went all out to chase their target.

Five wickets for Liam Fletcher and a couple for Matt Wilcox kept Town in the hunt but Sutton eventually got home with two wickets and two overs to spare.

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