THE odds are certainly stacked against Accrington as they take on Lancashire League title challengers Ramsbottom in the first round of the Worsley Cup on Sunday.
The last time they beat the Acrebottom side in the cup competition was in 1991 when a young 19-year-old Shane Warne was professional!
But it proved to be a memorable match - with Ramsbottom needing 10 off the last over - as it continued into Monday evening before the Thorneyholme Road side snatched the victory by just two runs.
Matt Wilson's side will be hoping for a repeat of the win although the Rams prolific bowler Kartik Murali is proving a thorn in the side of the Lancashire League batsmen and they will have to hope pro Tama Canning can come up with the goods.
Before the Ramsbottom cup clash, Accrington will be on the hunt for their first league win of the season when they take on Todmorden tomorrow.
And Church desperately need to bounce back following their second double loss weekend in succession.
On Saturday pro Ruven Peiris hit 88 in their 181-8 but this couldn't stop them slipping to a 10 wicket loss to Central Lancashire League side Norden in the Inter-League Trophy.
The day after, it was a lot closer against Ramsbottom as Peiris hit 58 but, after that only skipper Phil Sykes (20) and Sam Holt (10) got into double figures as one of the most feared bowlers in the league, Kartik once more ripped apart a batting line. He took 9-47 leaving Church on 132 all out.
Nick Westwell (3-45), Andrew Bentley (2-49) and Peiris (2-41) tried to stop the Acrebottom side but they by-passed the target with three wickets to spare.
Church will be desperate to re-find their form against Colne in the league on Saturday followed by their local derby first round Worsley Cup clash with Rishton.
Enfield will be hoping Alviro Petersen will be firing on all cylinders this weekend after a disappointing show from them.
They suffered a nine wicket loss to Monton and Weaste on Saturday in the Inter League competition and then East Lancs made short work of them on Sunday.
It was another paid man - East Lancs Loots Bosman, who has proved the undoing of many Lancs League batsman so far, who destroyed the Enfield attack as he picked up 5-31 as Enfield were skittled out for 78. And the Alexandra Meadows side surged beyond the total with ease.
Enfield will be hoping to pick up this weekend when they travel to Nelson on Saturday in the league before they hope to reproduce the heroics of last season's Worsley Cup campaign.
Last summer, they made the semi-finals and were desperately unlucky to miss out on a final show when they lost to eventual winners Lowerhouse. They have a home game against Todmorden in the first round.
Prior to their big showdown on Sunday, Rishton travel to bottom club Bacup on Saturday hoping to pile more misery on the Lanehead side.
