IN A Northern Premier League game of fluctuating fortunes at Broadwater on Saturday, Fleetwood managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of a very possible victory.

On two occasions the home side looked comfortably placed but both times they threw away their advantage and eventually lost as their 178 all out was overhauled by Preston who made 182-6 to win by four wickets.

Fleetwood's start was electric as John Wright put the bowlers to the sword, that is until the wily Manoj Parekh was introduced into the attack.

In his first over Wright escaped with a lofted shot that fell between two converging fielders, was then caught of a no-ball before he holed out to Raouf Akbar at mid-off for 41 and Fleetwood were 73-1.

They advanced to 101-1 with Michael Clinning, 52 with seven fours, and Lloyd Ferreira who made 17. Ferreira then fell leg before wicket to Pervez Shah and the decline began as the remaining wickets were lost for the addition of just 77 runs.

Zac Taylor, four, was caught by Glen Johnstone at slip off Parekh and Andy Singleton, nought, was caught by Akbar at mid-off from Parekh's bowling. Clinning and Wayne Clarke tried to affect a recovery but they were both out at the same total, 149. Shah bowled Clarke for 16 and Clinning was well caught by a diving Richardson at slip.

Rob Clark failed to score and was stumped by Paul Mann off Parekh at 157-7, James Ellis, 14, was caught by Richardson at slip off Parekh and then Akbar returned to wrap up the innings in two balls. He clean bowled Steve Hill for two and had Dave Fish leg before wicket and with Paul Hague not out eight, the Fleetwood innings closed at 178 with Parekh taking a fine 6-53.

When Preston replied, Fleetwood quickly established their supremacy by taking three wickets for 18 runs. Anthony Mann, three, was caught behind by Ellis off Hill, Ian McDonnell, with three fours, including the shot of the day through extra cover, was bowled by Hill for 12 and Munaf Bavla was caught by Ellis off Fish.

Shah, 32, and Akbar 54 with 10 fours, then put on 67 for the fourth wicket before both perished in the same fashion, caught by Clark off Taylor at mid-wicket with Shah hitting a long hop straight to the fielder.

All that did was bring in Parekh who made sure it was his day with an untroubled 32 not out and with Johnstone nine not out Preston were victorious by four wickets at 182-6 with five overs and four balls of the final 20 overs remaining.

Blackpool meanwhile lost to lowly Leyland at Fox Lane as they could not reach the home side's modest 154-9 to which Mark Pallett contributed 81 and Deon Kruis took 5-40. Julian Edwards replied with 4-32 as Blackpool were bowled out for just 127 to lose by 27 runs with Steven Croft, 31, making the top score.

St Annes had a last ball victory over high-flying Darwen when two wickets fell in the final over, one from the last ball that gave the visitors a magnificent 53-run victory. Batting first St Annes made 222-8 with stand-in South African professional Johann Louw making 92 and the in-form Gareth Evans contributing 55. Darwen professional Keith Semple took 4-65 and then scored 57 but he had no answer to Louw who took 7-50 as Darwen were bowled out at the death for 169.

And on Sunday St Annes triumphed again in the last over to reach the regional final of the National Knock-Out Cup competition. They defeated Chester Boughton Hall by five wickets after the home side had made 197-9 in their 45 overs with young Michael Baer taking 5-42.

In St Annes' reply, Adrian Darlington made 57 and Steve Twist, 66 not out, and Roger Banks, 26 not out, saw their side home as they reached 199-5 to win by five wickets.