CHORLEY were a shadow of the side that regularly finished in the top three in the last decade when they came to Stanley Park for their Bay 96.9 Northern Premier League match on Saturday (April 29).

They surrendered meekly as they managed a meagre 123-8 from 53 rain interrupted overs.

And then in reply their bowling was at best mediocre as Blackpool meandered steadily to their target, 124-5, with seven overs remaining and with Richard Lamb providing a cultured 41.

Bannister and Fazackerley gave Chorley a slow start and when the latter was bowled by Walton for 20 with the total on 49, 30 of the allotted overs had been used.

Bannister, 22, was leg before wicket to Singh and then Marcus Sharp struck to take five of the remaining six wickets. He had Horridge, 16, caught at mid-off by Singh, Heaton, one, leg before wicket, Mawdsley dismissed without scoring and then bowled Senior for 31. Patel was run out for four and off the final ball of the innings and Chorley had managed only 123-8 with Sharp taking 5-41.

In reply Blackpool lost two early wickets to the wayward Australian Josh Marquet. Pickles, two, was leg before wicket and Bracewell needlessly wafted at a wide ball to be caught behind for three.

Lomas and Lamb then added 66 in 69 minutes before the former was caught behind off Howard Thompson for 38.

Chris Cornall gave 15-year-old leg spinner Steven Cooke his first senior wicket when he was stumped for three and Lamb, whose 41 spanned 84 balls and contained three fours, was bowled by Marquet when the match was all but won.

It just needed Singh to blast a quick 24 and Blackpool had the required 124-5; Chorley were down and out without so much as a bleat!