UMPIRE Clifford Ashworth has called hundreds of no balls during his time in the white coat, but as far as Ramsbottom are concerned he may never have called a more crucial one than in Michael Haslam's second over on Sunday.

Facing a none too daunting total of 153 to win, Haslingden stood at 3 for 0 with the in-form Barry Knowles on strike.

Haslam produced an absolute beauty of a delivery which scattered Knowles' stumps and sent the home side into raptures, until the umpires out-stretched right hand indicated a no ball, a decision which angered a large portion of the home crowd who were sat square of the wicket.

This decision proved to be the deciding factor in a tense game, as Knowles smashed a quickfire 74 which ultimately won his side the game.

Ramsbottom were on the back foot from the word go after losing the toss and being asked to bat on a wicket that assisted the bowler.

Both sub-professional Rennier Munnik and Steve Dearden bowled an excellent line, and with the Haslingden fielders on top form run scoring was very difficult.

Still, several of the home batsmen made steady starts to their innings only to throw this away with some injudicious shots.

Lee Daggett and Robert Read again came to the rescue and looked to be setting up a very profitable partnership till Read fell victim to a questionable lbw decision.

Daggett and skipper Hevingham then took the score into the 140s, but unfortunately as the innings closed Daggett did not see enough of the strike and the overs had almost run out when he was bowled trying to up the tempo.

After the aforementioned Knowles incident, Haslingden looked to be in total control and raced to 62 before Ingham was dismissed in the 14th over.

Munnik then came to the wicket and was mighty lucky to get away with a caught behind decision before he had scored.

He found the Ramsbottom professional Kartik very difficult to play, however, and had only made a laboured five runs before being well held by Dentith at slip.

However, Knowles had been scoring freely and the score was nearing the 100 mark when Steve Dearden joined him.

Something desperate was needed and it came in Kartik's 13th over when he clean-bowled Dearden and had Knowles well held behind.

This put a bit of pressure on the opposition and with Daggett bowling well in support of his professional, run scoring became a lot more difficult.

However, Haslingden had the advantage of having plenty of overs to spare and despite wickets falling at regular intervals John Simpson, the 16 year old Lancashire Academy member, played with great maturity and managed to see his side home with three overs to spare, the target having been reduced as two overs were lost to rain.

Ramsbottom were left to reflect on what might have been if Michael Haslam's delivery in the third over had been allowed to stand.