ST ANNES lost their third match of the season after scoring 232-5 when current Vaux Northern League champions Netherfield beat them on Saturday (Aug 21) at Vernon Road, with 234-5.

They now trail Darwen by nine points.

Put in to bat, Adrian Darlington and Andy Kellett gave them a solid foundation with a 72 runs partnership for the first wicket before the former was lbw to Mark Hadwin for 49.

Darlington batted 56 minutes, faced 59 balls and hit eight fours.

Their second wicket fell five runs later when Dave Callaghan, the St Annes professional, was caught by Paul Dodds off Hadwin for two.

Steven Twist and Kellett featured in a third wicket partnership of 61 runs before the former was caught by Simon Little off Geoff Foley for 31.

The fourth wicket fell at 139 when Foley returned the gesture to Little to dismiss Kellett for 45.

Russ Bradley and Duncan Whalley featured in a fifth wicket partnership of 64 before Bradley was caught by Martin Lewis off Foley for 34.

St Annes terminated their innings on 232-5. Duncan Whalley was unbeaten with 46 and Sean Bickerdike with eight.

Whalley batted 54 minutes, faced 41 balls and hit two sixes and one four.

In reply, Netherfield lost their first wicket at 21 when Martin Lewis was caught by John Cotton off Joe Davies for eight.

Craig Walmsley and Simon Dutton redressed the balance with a 98 runs partnership for the second wicket until the former was run out for 69.

The visiting batsmen dominated the St Annes bowling attack and Dutton and Foley took the score on to 209 before Dutton was caught by Andy Kellett off Callaghan's second spell for 84.

Dutton batted 130 minutes, faced 118 balls and hit 14 fours.

Netherfield were reduced to 222-5 but Jimmy Moyes and David Fallows saw them home to victory with four and eight respectively.

Netherfield professional Geoff Foley batted 79 minutes, faced 47 balls and hit three sixes and five fours in his 51.

St Annes, who need to stay in touch with league leaders Darwen, have two relatively easy games over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On Saturday (Aug 28) at Vernon Road they play hosts to second from the bottom of the table Preston and on Monday they visit bottom club Leyland.

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