CHURCH captain Levi Wolfenden wants to use his side’s mini season success as inspiration to push for Lancashire League promotion next ytear.

The West End club capped a memorable few months by lifting the President’s Cup following a dramatic three run victory over Ramsbottom.

The victory meant Church did their own version of the ‘invincibles’ going through the shortened season with an unbeaten record having also lifted the Hyndburn T20 Cup.

Wolfenden now wants to build on that to win promotion from Division Two.

“It’s been a brilliant few months, a season like no other, but to finish it with two cups and an unbeaten record is perfect,” said the 27-year-old. “I’ve already said to the lads that we can use this to inspire us next season and win promotion.

“We are a good side and we have shown that in the President’s Cup.”

Wolfenden said the final could not have gone any better and his decision to draft in a professional paid dividends as Neil Hornbuckle top scored with 43 then bowled the final over restricting Ramsbottom to 11 of the 15 runs they needed for victory.

“I said last week it was a decision I thought long and hard about,” added Wolfenden, who put on a crucial 68-run fourth wicket partnership with the South African. “We haven’t had a pro all season and I was thinking do we go with the same players who got us to the final?

“But in the end we needed someone capable of doing what Neil did on the day so it was the right decision to make.

“He did everything we asked of him and more.He out pro-ed Daryn Smit and that is a very hard thing to do.”

Church won the toss and elected to bat and openers Stuart Crabtree and Sam Holt got them off to a solid and steady start, putting on 55 for the first wicket before Crabtree went for 23 and Holt going three runs later for 24 with Henry Doyle getting both wickets.

Rammy appeared to be getting on top when a third wicket fell with 60 runs on the board, with Kelan Florentine trapped lbw for a duck by Jon Fielding, who announced his retirement from the game on the eve of the final.

But that brought Hornbuckle and Wolfenden together and they put together what proved to be a match winning partnership.

Hornbuckle, who had previously been professional at Milnrow, hit four fours and a six in his knock of 43 before Kieran Grimshaw claimed his wicket.

Church looked to be on for a 200 run total but when Wolfenden departed for 31 - also dismissed by Grimshaw - they had to re-evaluate but Craig Fergusson (12), Joel Gaskill (8) and Liam Dyson (9) added some important late runs as they closed on a very competitive 170-8.

Grimshaw (3-36) was the pick of the Ramsbottom bowlers.

In reply, Ramsbottom got off to the worst possible start when Wolfenden trapped JJ Fielding lbw with the first ball of the innings.

Simon Hanson and Grimshaw steadied the innings before Hanson went for 22 but Phil Gilrane trapped danger man Smit lbw for just 12 to hand the initiative back to Church.

However, with Grimshaw at the crease, Rammy were in with a chance and supported by Jake Clarke (21) and then Fielding (18no), they went in to the final over needing 15 runs with victory in sight.

But Hornbuckle used all his experience to limit the pair to just 11 runs - Grimshaw unbeaten on 60 - as Church lifted the cup.

“It was a tense finale, I couldn’t take it,” said Wolfenden whose side beat Walsden in similar circumstances in the semi finals. “But I’m still buzzing, we all are. It was a great final and a real team effort.”

He added: “I’m delighted for all the players but especially the fans who pay there money to support amateur sport. There have been plenty of barren years at Church so it is nice for them to see us lift some silverware.

Wolfenden, whose team were relegated from Division One last season, now wants Church to be the answer of a Lancashire League trivia quiz in years to come.

“With everything that has gone on, hopefully this is a one-off season and we are the only team to win the President’s Cup,” he said. “Now that would be a good answer to a trivia quiz!”