UNSWORTH went into the weekend as leaders of the Central Lancashire league, but by Monday they had dropped to third, after Oldham inflicted upon them their first defeat of the season at Pole Lane on Sunday.

The weekend began well with a straight forward victory at Middleton on Saturday.

Despite the rain the game got under way on time, a tribute to the Towncroft ground staff.

Batting first the Moonrakers were soon in trouble, with Davey (4), Kumar (0) and Ryan (1) all back in the pavilion with the score on 22-3.

But then a stand of 78 between club pro Sajith Fernando (58) and Dutey (31) pushed the score up to 100-4, before Dutey fell to Alan Badenhorst (3-85).

Punchard (34no) then shared a stand of 21 with Fernando before the paid man departed, followed closely by Buckley (0).

Royle put together a useful stand of 37 before John Wiggans ran him out.

A score of 158-7 soon became 158-8, as Doyle (0) became Badenhorst's third victim of the day.

A useful 13 from Valentine and Tomlinson run out for two, left the home side all out for 178.

Overseas amateur J.P.Hean continued his fine start to the season and put on 38 before skipper Entwistle (17) fell to Fernando.

But Hean (78), together with pro Robbie MacQueen (59no) pushed the score along to 163 with nine overs remaining.

Needing just 16 runs for victory proved to be an easy task, as Graeme Jones scored seven off six balls before being trapped lbw by Fernando with the score on 173. MacQueen then hit a four and two singles to win the game.

Looking for a maximum 10 point weekend, the home bowlers quickly set about the Oldham batting on Sunday at Pole Lane, with Inkpen (1), McDonnell (2) and Bloor (6) despatched for just 27.

But then the visitor's overseas amateur Heino Kuhn (50 from 67 balls) and paid man Martin Smith (49) ensured the score hit 80 before the next wicket fell.

With a damp outfield, runs were not easy, but Proctor (25) and Thompson (12) managed to accumulate enough to make an interesting second session, with the visitors reaching 168ao.

Hean and Entwistle were tasked with getting Unsworth's reply off the ground, but for the first time this season they failed to do so, with Entwistle succumbing first (5), followed two runs later by Heam (5), with the score board showing just 16-2.

That soon became 25-3 as Jones (3) fell to his second lbw of the weekend, with the home side beginning to struggle.

With the pressure on MacQueen and Badenhorst pushed the score on to 83 before the pro went for 44.

Manley (11), Wiggans (10) and Barlow (12) all chipped in but none remained at the crease long enough to really pressure the visiting bowlers, and although Unsworth ticked along they eventually ran out of batsmen, as Hamilton (7) McBurnie (0) and Brady (0no) could only push the score as far as 144 before their allotted overs were used up.

However a point was secured and new signing Dion Taljard is free to play this weekend, when the team travels to the Crimble to take on fifth-placed Heywood.

This Sunday Unsworth travel to the Crimble to take on Heywood.