ON Saturday Eccleston slipped to a nine run defeat away to Goodlass after seeming to have the game in the bag.

Batting first, Goodlass were bowled out for 114, thanks to some devastating bowling by John Parry (4-18), well supported by Andy Elliott (3-17) and Karl Holden (2-12).

This appeared a simple task for the Eccleston batsmen when Atherden (25) and Johnson (21) got among the Goodlass bowlers and at 84-3 it looked to be all over.

But complacency set in and Eccleston were all out for 105.

On Sunday Eccleston won a thriller away to a previously unbeaten Billinge side.

Batting first, Eccleston got off to a tremendous start through openers Smith (36) and Elliott (21) before the first wicket fell at 75.

But they collpased again to 80-7 before French (12 n.o.) restored some stability to take them to 103 all out. Wickets for Billinge were was shared between Story (5-35) and Middlehurst (4-19).

When Billinge took to the crease, Eccleston had three batsmen back in the pavilion for only three runs, before Story (72) set about the bowling looking to turn the game the home side's way.

Unfortunately wickets were falling at the other end and when Story was finally out Billinge were 97 all out, seven runs short of the target.

An excellent bowling performance by Andy Elliott (5-15) supported by Merlin Gornall (4-44) enabled Eccleston to win this thrilling encounter.