COLNE are in sight of their highest finish in the EW Cartons Lancashire League for nearly 40 years, writes PETER WHITE.

And, if they could pull it off, professional Ben Johnson would probably be just as pleased as when he celebrated his fantastic record-breaking individual summer at the Horsfield last year.

But the Aussie warned his Colne team-mates - there must be no letting up as they chase the realistic target of second place and the Holland Cup awarded to the league runners-up.

The last time Colne finished in the top two was 1959 when, with Stan Jayasinghe as professional, they were champions.

Tomorrow, they go into the return game against Burnley at Turf Moor just four points behind second-placed East Lancs.

Johnson feels that leaders Haslingden, with a 13-point advantage, may be beyond his team's reach but stressed: "Everyone at the club is very excited about our present position.

"If we had beaten Burnley last weekend we would already have been in second place.

"But we are not far away and we have been playing quite well.

"There's definitely a realistic chance of finishing in the top two. "Haslingden are probably a bit too far ahead and we are really fighting to finish second. But we know we have the ability to beat any of the teams in the league, it's just a matter of being consistent.

"My personal goal at the start of the season was to help Colne finish higher than last year.

"We are on course but there must not be any letting up. It's going to be interesting, because a lot of the teams involved have to play each other in the remaining programme."

Johnson had the season of a lifetime last summer when he shattered Peter Sleep's league batting record.

Tomorrow's trip to Turf Moor offers the chance of instant revenge against Burnley, after Colne felt they let themselves down a bit in last weekend's first clash.

"I thought we batted reasonably well and we started bowling well," said Johnson.

"But we let ourselves down with our fielding which was particularly poor.

"When your fielding is poor there is no pressure on the batsmen, though it should be said that young Michael Brown batted very well." Only eight games remain and, after tomorrow's programme, four of their next five matches are against other sides in contention such as Ramsbottom, East Lancs and Lowerhouse.

With the programme being the reverse of last Sunday's matches, leaders Haslingden will be expected to complete a rapid double over depleted Rishton at Bentgate.

Gordon Parsons again deputises as professional for Haslingden.

The current form of the leaders means East Lancs must gain revenge over Ramsbottom at Alexandra Meadows if they are to retain a realistic hope of catching their rivals.

Andrew Payne deputises for Rawtenstall against Accrington, following the injury which has cut short Ian Hewett's season.

Tomorrow's games:

Accrington v Rawtenstall

Bacup v Todmorden

Burnley v Colne

Church v Enfield

East Lancs v Ramsbottom

Haslingden v Rishton

Nelson v Lowerhouse

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.