ST ANNES lost their first Vaux Northern League match of the season when Fleetwood beat them by one wicket at Broadwater.

Put in to bat, St Annes lost their first wicket at 17 when Andy Kellett was caught by Michael Dewhurst off Neil Gregson for eight.

Adrian Darlington and Dave Callaghan featured in a 60 runs partnership for the second wicket before the latter was bowled by Michael Dewhurst, the Fleetwood third change bowler, for 20.

Half the St Annes team were dismissed for 103 when wicket-keeper Duncan Whalley was caught by Tony Hesketh off Mike Clinning without opening his account.

Opener Adrian Darlington was next out with the score on 139.

He was caught by Tony Poxon off Shawn Nicolson for 78.

His innings, which lasted 125 minutes, included 10 fours off 120 balls.

St Annes collapsed and lost their next three wickets for only eight runs.

A last wicket partnership of 20 ended tragically when John Cotton ran his son Adam out for 23 as the St Annes innings closed on 167.

In reply, Fleetwood lost their first wicket at 28 when professional Shawn Nicolson was caught by Andy Kellett off David Taylor for 13.

This brought Mike Clinning to the wicket and he was the backbone of the Fleetwood victory.

When he departed, caught by Dave Callaghan off Steven Twist for 83, his side were within ten runs of victory.

His innings lasted 144 minutes and he hit one 6 and 9 fours off 125 balls.

The last pair, opening bowler Neil Gregson and wicket-keeper Keith Riley, had an unbroken partnership of ten runs to see Fleetwood home to victory.

Gregson was undefeated with 11 and Riley didn't open his account.

On Saturday (July 10), St Annes entertain Leyland Daf at Vernon Road and should return to winning ways against the next to the bottom of the table.

The main danger is Daf's Pakistani professional Stephen John who is believed to be one of the quickest bowlers in the league.

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