Accrington beat league leaders Lowerhouse in the first of their two late-season clashes but the Burnley outfit remain title favourites.

Jimmy Hayhurst’s side did what they had to do at Thorneyholme Road on Saturday, even though they made a poor start in a game reduced to 47 overs each.

The home side were looking in all sorts of trouble on 44-6 but a partnership of 85 between that best of men for a crisis, Graham Lloyd, and another vastly-experienced battler, wicket-keeper Matt Wilson, rescued the situation.

After Wilson (37) departed, Lloyd helped add another 25 for the eighth and ninth wickets before finally falling for 55.

Bowlers Hayhurst and David Ormerod soon had the visitors in trouble themselves at 43-4 and, though there was some resistance down the order, Accrington pro Ashar Zaidi more than made up for a rare batting disappointment by running through the middle order with 5-39, despite an injury, as the visitors fell to 132 all out.

It was 24 short of their target but Lowerhouse grabbed a potentially-crucial five bonus points for their efforts as Accrington claimed a maximum 12.

Church earned another victory at Turf Moor and even contributed heavily to the match being staged in the first place.

West End stalwarts Andrew Bentley and Phil Sykes journeyed back to Oswaldtwistle to bring the visiting club’s "water hog" to help get the water off the Turf Moor surface.

It proved well worth the effort, too, even though Burnley racked up 144-5 from their 29 overs.

Church professional Saeed Anwar took 4-48 but Bentley came in for some stick as home pro Imad Wasim and Michael Kelly hit out.

But it was reasonably plain sailing for the visitors as they had an opening stand of 63 between Levi Wolfenden and captain Craig Fegursson, both making 27, and the home side also wastefully contributed 21 wides as Anwar hit out to end unbeaten on a 21-ball 48 as Church got home by five wickets with eight balls to spare.

Enfield went down at Ramsbottom despite posting 162 all out.

Skipper Adam Bracewell hit 48 and there were useful contributions from Sagawat Hussain (29) and Asif Fazal (24).

But Ramsbottom won comfortably with just five wickets down.

Rishton came home empty-handed from Nelson after collapsing to 115 all out.

Captain James Bibby and opening bat Abdul Biswoodal were the only men to pass 20, other than extras.

Nelson eased home for the loss of three wickets, two of them to Afaq Ali Sartaj, and won so easily that their sub pro, old favourite Joe Scuderi, hadn’t been called upon to bowl and came in with the bat with only a few needed.