Opener Craig Fergusson had to show the two sides to his batting as Church cut the gap to third place to just eight points over the weekend.

On Saturday he was the match winner against Lowerhouse with a vital top-score of 49 to take him to more than 500 league runs for the season.

Then on Sunday Fergusson had to play the anchor man role with a patient 10 off 85 balls as Church beat East Lancs in a massive boost to their chances of a top three finish.

Church were struggling on 49-5 against third-placed East Lancs but Fergusson formed a match-winning 76-run partnership with Sagawat Hussain to make it a double win weekend.

"To be honest, they were both important," said Fergusson, who returned to Church this season after four seasons at Enfield.

"The 49 on Saturday was important to get a half-decent total - we should have had more really but it helped push up the score. Then the bowlers did well to win the game at Lowerhouse for us.

"Then on Sunday I quite enjoyed it. I am good at being patient, I am quite laid back, so I just let Saggy smash the ball around while I sat back.

"To win both was massive for us as, if we can do well in our final four games, we can finish third.

"And it’s great for me to be back at Church and help them do it. It was a hard decision to leave both Church and Enfield and I get a bit of stick off the lads but it was the right time to come back to Church.

"And I have never got 500 league runs before - it’s been a long time coming," added the 28-year-old.

Fergusson has opened the batting this season with Ammer Mirza who now has 725 runs - closing in on the Church amateur record of 781.

"I am sure Ammer will break the record," said Fergusson. "He has been a big acquisition for the club from the Ribblesdale League and I enjoy opening with him.

"He likes to attack the bowlers and it’s great to watch. Hopefully I can have a go at breaking his new record next season!"

Church used sub pros last weekend - with Luke Woodcock expected to return this weekend - and Saeed Anwar Junior took six wickets on Sunday while Andy Bentley got three to take his wicket tally to 60 for the season.

While Church are in a good position. Accrington, Enfield and Rishton are battling it out at the lower end of the table.

Rishton pro Andrea Agathagelou is closing in on the 1,000 run target with 881 for the season so far.

He scored an unbeaten 91 in Rishton’s six wicket win over Burnley on Saturday after also taking five wickets.

On Sunday, though, Rishton found Todmorden in good form. Their target of 174 was quickly closed down with eight wickets to spare.

It was one win, one loss for Accrington too as Graham Lloyd passed 500 runs for the season and helped them to victory against Rawtenstall on Saturday.

Lloyd’s 49 in 73 balls boosted Accrington total to 151 and the wickets were shared with pro Will Driver taking four and David Ormerod and Paul Carroll three each in their 44 run win.

But they then lost to leaders Ramsbottom on Sunday - who look all set to take Accrington’s title off them.

Stuart Crabtree made 57 but 120 was never going to be enough against a strong Ramsbottom side who won by five wickets and opened up a 14 point gap at the top with four games left to play.

And Enfield also won one and lost one in a mixed weekend. Title-challenging Haslingden’s target of 213 was always going to be tricky, with Bentgate pro Phil Hayes marking his return from injury with a top score of 61.

And Enfield ended up losing by 90 runs - Adam Bracewell top scoring with 35.

However they bounced back with victory over bottom club Bacup on Sunday

Chasing 181, they had Liam Jackson to thank with an 84 from 103 balls to win easily with more than eight overs to spare. Jackson needs 17 runs to top 500 league runs for the season.