PRESTON may remain anchored at the foot of the Northern Premier League but they enjoyed better luck in the Thwaites Smooth Beer League Cup on Sunday when they beat Fleetwood by 32 runs.

After scoring 195 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted overs in the first round group stage match with the help of 59 McDonnell and 42 by Malik they dismissed Fleetwood for 163.

The result followed another league defeat on Saturday at the hands of Chorley.

Having been put in to bat, Preston lost wickets at regular intervals with no batsman reaching 20 and significantly, professional Akbar being sent to hospital for an X-ray after being hit on the toe by yorker from Chorley professional Stephen John.

John and Bill Smith did the damage for Chorley taking three wickets each , while Iqbal Patel and Tom Smith both picked up two wickets as Preston were dismissed for 108 in the 40th over.

Chorley had a minimum of 65 overs and made a pedestrian start.

With Akbar unable to bowl becuase of his earlier injury, Preston bowled well to reduce Chorley to 45 for 5 but Nigel Heaton then polished off the runs with help of Neil Senior who made an unbeaten on 41 with eight fours and a six as Chorley got home in the 54th over.

Leyland and Farrington were defeated by Lancaster after being dismissed 15 runs short of their victory target.

There was some joy for Leyland Motors who secured a winning draw against Fleetwood with a knock of 56 from Aspinall helping the Motormen reach a total of 194. Fleetwood could only reach 162 for the loss of six wickets.

Preston are at home to Motors in a the league on Saturdat while Leyland visit St Annes.