IN a footballing sense it was a 'Roy of the Rovers' ending to Marcus Sharp's professional career at Blackpool in their Northern Premier League game against Lancaster at Stanley Park on Saturday.

He had already played a major part with the ball taking 5-15 from 23 tight overs as Lancaster crashed to a meagre 81 all out. But then with his side teetering on the brink of victory or defeat, he went to the wicket at 79-7 and struck the winning runs to give his side a three-wicket victory at 82-7.

Lancaster had no answer to his immaculate bowling and it was 45 balls before a run came from him. Only David Heywood with 36 showed any resistance as the departing Oliver Newby chipped in with 4-28.

Stephen Croft, 23, and Richard Lamb, 22, made runs for Blackpool in between the rain, but it was Sharp who provided the afternoon's big moment.

Both sides applauded him from the field and later Blackpool awarded him honorary life membership in recognition of five superb seasons in which he took 285 League wickets.

St Annes meanwhile could not force a victory against Leyland after making a modest 118 in a rain affected game. Duncan Whalley made 25 and Joe Davies 24 but despite Stephen Twist's 5-38 Leyland held on for the draw at 106-8.

Fleetwood were not so fortunate as they lost heavily at Morecambe. Making only 104 with stand-in professional Graham Lloyd dismissed second ball for nought and Rob Clarke top scoring with 24, the bowlers could do nothing to stop Phil Thornton hitting a typically robust 58 not out to take his side to an eight-wicket victory at 106-2.

And so an unspectacular season for the Fylde Coast clubs ended with Blackpool in fifth place, St Annes seventh and Fleetwood ninth.