WHALLEY could finally celebrate after they picked up their first Jennings Ribblesdale League win of the season.

The Station Road side were relieved after they defeated Clitheroe -- although the victory didn't move them away from the foot of the table where they are 13 points adrift at the half way stage of this season.

"We have a very good morale at the club, I just wish we could turn morale into wins," said skipper Jason Smith, a former professional at the club, who, after a year out last summer, is in his first season as captain.

"We never get down. They are a great bunch of lads here, you can't fault them at all and it was a relief for us all to win.

"We aren't as bad a side as the league table suggests but to go ten league games without a win is disappointing.

"Our problem is we just haven't made the runs. We have a good bowling attack it is just on the batting side. It is frustrating for everybody concerned."

It all came together against Clitheroe with Whalley's paid man Graham Knowles scoring an unbeaten 103, backed up by Lee Kearsley (51), in their eight wicket win.

"Everything just seemed to go right on Saturday," continued the skipper. "And it would be nice to think it would continue.

"It was an excellent century by Graham and we needed him to stay there and he did. And Lee supported him which we hadn't been doing.

"We know what our problems have been. They just aren't always easy to put right.

"We are lacking consistency but saying that any team in this league can beat another on the day. It is that type of league.

"I don't think anyone would have expected us to beat Clitheroe and there have been other 'surprise' results.

"We are hoping to build on this but we are not looking too far ahead.

"The aim now is just to take it one game at a time. There will be no predictions, we just want to see if we can keep it going."

Next up for Whalley is a trip to last season's champions Ribblesdale Wanderers who are having a poor season, lying third from bottom.

The recent memories of the Church Meadow side aren't too good as, two weeks ago, Ribblesdale enjoyed a 144-run win over Whalley in the quarter-finals of the Ramsbottom Cup.

"It is a huge game for us. They had a big cup win over us and their professional Shahid Nawaz is class but we hope to put on a better performance," said the captain.

"We know where we are going wrong and we have been working on it in training. We aim to put on a better show and we'll see what happens."