CHURCH have to look back to May 3 for their last win - and captain Phil Gilrane is praying another one comes along soon.

In the second and third games of the Lancashire League season, his side saw off East Lancs and Haslingden to win two matches on the spin and give Church plenty of hope for this campaign.

But four league losses have followed, they have been knocked out of the Worsley Cup and suffered a defeat to East Lancs in their only 20/20 game so far.

They are second-bottom of the table and Gilrane is hoping for a turnaround in fortunes sooner rather than later.

"If the team was a million miles away I would be worried but we are not," said the captain.

"We have lost some close games and we just need that win. I think, apart from 2002 when we challenged for the title, we have mostly been down around this position for the last few years and we are looking now to move up the table.

"Our batting is okay and the amateurs are chipping in even when the pro hasn’t got a big score but our bowling hasn’t been the best."

They have been limited to paid man Niel Bredenkamp, Andy Bentley, Sam Holt - who has been injured - and the skipper himself for bowling duties but Gilrane is now looking at other options.

"The good thing about the 20/20 competition is that you get the chance to look at other bowlers and Sagawat Hussain, Barry Shorrock and Mark Gilrane are all pushing for a chance," continued the captain with Church in 20/20 action tonight at Rishton.

"We have a few weeks of this and, for us, the 20/20 competition is a chance to look at other options - at lads who don’t usually have the chance to bowl - and to see who impresses me."

It is the 25-year-old’s first season as captain and admits it hasn’t quite gone to plan.

"When you win, it is brilliant but it hasn’t happened enough. And when you lose, I think I tend to take it harder as a captain but all the lads rally around me and me and Andy Bentley discuss a lot of things during the week. I am enjoying the experience though."

While Gilrane is young, pro Niel Bredenkamp is also inexperienced as he will turn just 21 next month.

He came with a big recommendation from back home in South Africa as the "next Jacques Kallis" but the captain says he is still finding his feet in the Lancashire League.

"There is no pressure on him," said the captain with Bredenkamp on 303 runs so far with a high score of 94.

"He is obviously disappointed when we get beat but he has been unlucky a number of times this season.

"He wants to score as many runs as he can but he is still getting used to the climate and the pitches. He is only young and we knew he wouldn’t come here and smash it all over the place and that it would take time to adjust.

"There is no doubt he has the ability it is just how long he takes to get used to it all."

And the captain says the team spirit is still high despite the stuttering start.

"There is a group of around 11-13 lads who all go around together, we are of a similar age and we are close. Alec Holt and Phil Sykes are older but everyone fits in well and we are in it together - whether we win or lose.

"We just need a couple of wins to start climbing the table. My main aim is to improve on last season," said Gilrane, after Church finished third from bottom in the last campaign.

Their latest defeat came at the hands of second placed Accrington who continue to impress this season.

Church made 228-5 with Bredenkamp top scoring with 57 and Bentley taking three wickets. But a 77 from Accrington paid man Roy Silva meant the Thorneyholme Road side made it six league wins out of seven.

Meanwhile Church could get that elusive win as they face Bacup at home and away this weekend in the double header.

"Bacup beat us in the Worsley Cup but it was close. I would like us to get one win out of two as they will see us hopefully out of the bottom two," added the captain.

Accrington could do Church a favour at the bottom if they see off Burnley in their double header with ex-England cricketer David Lloyd playing for Accrington tomorrow.

RISHTON were unlucky to slip to a narrow one wicket loss to East Lancs in a high-scoring game. Captain Andy Bartley made 79 and pro Saeed Anwar 77 and they must have thought they were on course for a win.

But East Lancs paid man Shanan Stewart turned on the style with an unbeaten 137 to steal the victory. Rishton face Colne twice this weekend.

ENFIELD had a disappointing day as they lost to Todmorden without much of a fight. They were skittled out for 88 and Tod picked that off easily. Enfield come up against Lowerhouse this weekend.