RADCLIFFE'S faint title hopes evaporated on Sunday as Rochdale wrapped up a win at Unsworth to take an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

Rochdale's title win came despite the Racecourse side earning maximum points from their weekend fixtures.

However, the race is still on for second place as Radcliffe hope to finish behind the leaders for the second year in succession.

This honour is sure to be decided on Saturday when Graeme Simpson's men head to Werneth. Both sides are level on points but Radcliffe have the belief following their crushing victory over their opponents earlier in the season.

They go into the final weekend of the season in a confident mood after hammering both Ashton and Littleborough by massive margins.

Ashton visited the Racecourse on Saturday and were indebted to substitute professional Khiljee's stubborn 55 in their paltry total of just 99.

All the bowlers were among the wickets, with the spin duo of Steve Parry (3-12) and Nick Kennedy (2-2) particularly impressive.

Rising stars Parry and Ashfaq Gorsi then knocked off the runs for no loss with both youngsters gliding to unbeaten forties in under 25 overs.

The following day, Radcliffe travelled to old adversaries Littleborough and, again, left with a resounding win.

Eighteen-year-old Toby McLean bowled with pace and hostility to grab three deserved wickets with Eddie Shah (3-34) and professional Pasan Wanasinghe (3-26) also weighing in to have the home side all back in the hut for only 101.

Parry and Gorsi went cheaply but Wanasinghe and all-rounder Kennedy steadied the ship and saw their side home after skipper Simpson had been taken to hospital following a blow on the head whilst fielding.

Simpson said: "I'm a little dizzy but I won't be missing the final two games of the season. That's for sure!

"We hammered both teams at the weekend and I'm hoping we take that form into the Werneth game.

"We have already beaten Werneth so we are confident and hoping we can finish second once again."

The excellent performances of young talents Parry, Gorsi and McLean has filled the captain with much optimism.

"Steve and Ash batted superbly on Saturday and they showed good maturity to knock of the runs like they did," Simpson enthused.

"Toby bowled brilliantly on Sunday and I was pleased with the pace he showed. He was very hostile and rattled the Littleborough batsmen."

So, the stage is set for the Werneth game but Simpson has one eye on Sunday's Milnrow clash.

Simpson felt the Milnrow side denied his team two extra points in their last meeting with needless time-wasting.

Simpson said: "It will be a bit of a grudge match and I'm hoping we can turn them over."

Meanwhile, Radcliffe's second team notched up two more wins at the weekend.

Richard Farnworth (53) and Dean Bowman (33) put on 88 for the first wicket at Ashton but a batting collapse saw them stutter to 145.

However, good pace bowling from Phil Hayes (3-11) and Steve Cheetham (3-38) helped bowl the home side out 45 runs short of their target.

Hayes, Farnworth and Cheetham were again the heroes on Sunday against Littleborough.

First, Hayes made a half-century and Farnworth stroked 28 to provide the backbone to a final total of 101.

Cheetham (4-20) and Ryan Halliwell (3-11) then snuffed out any thoughts the visitors had of victory.