LANCASTER and Morecambe have two home games over the August Bank Holiday. This Saturday, Lancaster travel to Blackpool for a tough match while Morecambe play host to Fleetwood.

The seasiders beat current league champions Darwen last Saturday, while Fleetwood will, like Morecambe, have a deputy professional in their line up because Abbas Ali has returned to India due to a family illness.

If Morecambe play to their potential this is a match they should be looking to win.

Monday sees the local derby at Lune Street, a match in which form is often no guide.

Lancaster lost to Leyland in a pulsating finish at Lune Road, defeated by two runs with just two balls left in the match.

Lancaster captain David Heywood won the toss and put the visitors in. It looked like a good decision when Leyland's acting captain, Ian McDonnell was stumped by Brendan Hetherington for three.

Gareth Breese had Mark Swan caught by Phil Dennison for four. The third Leyland wicket to fall was that of their professional, Neil Rimmer, who was caught by Paul Taylor off Barnes for 24.

Then Leyland redressed the balance with a fourth wicket partnership off 154 between Neil Kenyon and Charlie Williams.

Kenyon was bowled by Breese for 76 and, although first change bowler Ian Burston bowled Mark Pallett for two Williams and Steven Pallet remained together until the end of the Leyland innings. Williams ended on an unbeaten 74 while Pallett was not out for eleven.

In reply, Lancaster lost both openers, Paul Taylor and Ian Parkinson cheaply, but Gareth Breese and Phil Dennison shared a third wicket partnership of 100.

Breese was caught by Paul Haydock off Neil Rimmer for 52, while Dennison top scored with 78 before being caught and bowled by Steven Pallett.

Lancaster lost cheap wickets in their run charge but captain David Heywood made 21 and wicket-keeper Brendan Hetherington 19 before being run out.

In the end, Lancaster's last pair of Ian Burston and Graham Barnes couldn't get the required runs because Barnes was caught behind by Charlie Williams off Neil Rimmer for four runs, leaving Burston stranded on two not out.

Morecambe's trip to the Lake District ended after just 28.3 overs as rain drowned out their game at Netherfield.

The home side, batting first, had an opening partnership of 75 between Craig Walmsley and Tommy Prime, before Walmsley was caught by Gareth Pedder off Tommy Clough for 58.

The second Netherfield wicket fell at 89 when Morecambe's deputy professional, Ali Khan had the Cumbrians' professional Jeffrey Vaughan caught by Andrew Mashiter for five.

When the rain drove the players off the field, Prime was 30 not out while Simon Dutton was on one not out.