ATHERTON lost their third round National KO competition game at Clifton on Monday by six wickets but there was still much to be positive about.

Minus the unavailable Phil West and David Baines, ineligible pro Mihir Dawakar and with Karl Brown away playing representative cricket, Atherton gave another start to 15-years-old Paul Keenan and included 12-years-old Shaun Marsh.

Keenan opened the innings with Paul McLoughlin and they put on 86 for the first wicket. Neither looked in any trouble until McLoughlin ran himself out for 25. Keenan continued to bat beautifully and looked to be on his way to his first senior century when he unluckily played on for a top class 75.

There was a lovely cameo partnership of 51 from Philip Williamson (26) and David Marsh (25) before the innings closed on 184-5 after 45 overs.

Clifton lost an early wicket when Shaun Marsh held a good catch to dismiss Mike Gardener but a well struck 70 by Anthony Griffiths and 54 from David Hamilton, allowed Clifton to overhaul the Higham Park side with four overs and six wickets to spare.

Keenan completed an excellent game by taking a superb catch, bowling five tidy overs for just 16 and turning in some top class ground fielding.