Church opening batsman Ammer Mirza capped a fine month by picking up the July Lancashire League Under-23 Player of the month award.
And he also became the first Church batsman to score a century and carry his bat since the end of World War Two.
The 19-year-old former Cherry Tree and Blackburn Northern player has been a revelation since moving to the Lancashire League, impressing many good judges with his sound defence and his ability to put the bad ball away, in accumulating 597 runs at an average of 49.7.
Mirza continued his amazing run of form on his home patch on Sunday, hitting an unbeaten 22 in his team’s nine-wicket win over bottom side Bacup.
The opener has scored an impressive 406 of his runs, including two unbeaten centuries and two half centuries at the West End Ground.
Church legend and Lancashire League president Jack Houldsworth has been scouring the record books.
And he said: "In living memory nobody has carried their bat for 100 for Church and I can vouch for that as far back as World War Two.
"Given a fair win he might break the club record of 781 runs set by Alec Holt in 1995."
The League president said he had been been impressed by the new man.
He said: "He plays a lot through square and is a good bat."
Church pushed up to fifth place by crushing demoralised bottom side Bacup.
There will probably never be an easier stroll than this to 12 points but the 5pm finish with 37 overs to spare doesn't quite do full justice to what was earlier a superlative effort in the field by the home side to reduce the struggling visitors to a paltrty total of 62.
Man of the moment Ammer Mirza set the ball rolling, or rather not rolling anywhere, with a marvellous take at gully from a full-blooded drive off the bowling of sub pro Gary Brent by Bacup's in-form professional Michael Smith.
It was a crushing moment for a batting side manifestly lacking in confidence although Bacup's other consistently-reliable run-maker, Paul Gallagher, was going well as his side went to 34 without further loss and Gallagher was given a let-off by Levi Wolfenden, who dropped a sitter, before finally being bowled by the opposing captain Andrew Bentley in his second spell
Lanehead skipper Tim Farragher had hung around in that second-wicket partnership but he was caught as wicketkeeper Sam Tucker stood up to the lively Brent.
Henry Butcher and Scott Thompson were soon back in the tent but Aaron Fielding proved a little more difficult to dislodge before giving Mirza another opportunity to show his safe pair of hands, this time in the deep.
Joe Sipocz was tied down without scoring for a while and inevitably finished up rashly attempting a hit which only gave Wolfenden the chance to atone for his earlier error
Mark Thompson went to a breathtaking Craig Fergusson slip catch, a full-length diving scooped-up one-handed effort.
Nasser Hussain held a steepler to get rid of Andrew Spencer and David Warren was bowled by Philip Gilrane to end a sorry Bacup effort
Bacup’s solitary success when Church replied was a fine return catch by Sipocz to get rid of Fergusson but thereafter with Church mindful of the threat of rain Ammer Mirza got the total cracking along and Wolfenden took advantage of some woeful stuff from the demoralised Bacup youngsters to plunder 32 not out, the last 26 of them coming off 11 balls as Church chased down the target in less than 11 overs.
On Saturday, with Bangladesh Test player Mohammad Ashraful as sub professional, Church travel to Rawtenstall who beat Enfield last Sunday at Bacup Road.
The match will be best remembered for a strange incident that occurred when Rawtenstall batsman Josh Rushmore hit the ball beyond the boundary and through the railings.
The ball struck a parked car in a line of traffic and much to the amazement of the players, umpires and spectators, a lady got out of the car, picked the ball up drove off with it. Later in the game another ball became lodged up a tree and could not be retrieved.
Two bright spots in the match which Enfield lost by 91 runs after being bowled out for 118 were the form of Liam Jackson and Simon O’Loughlin. All-rounder Jackson hit an 85-ball half-century and the slow left armer O’Loughlin picked up 4-46.
Enfield entertain Worsley Cup finalists Colne on Saturday.
Accrington’s struggle for runs finally ended on Sunday when David Ormerod’s men also laid the Todmorden hoodoo to rest after five successive defeats following the club’s 2008 Worsley Cup triumph at Centre Vale.
After waiting patiently for an opportunity all season, Andy Greenwood seized his chance with both hands to make a career best unbeaten 38 in Accrington’s 176-4. Graham Lloyd, professional Will Driver, Simon Hanson and Graeme Sneddon also chipped in with useful runs and then skipper Ormerod took centre stage with the ball. The veteran made the most of the damp conditions, taking 5-15 from 19.1 overs, 10 of which were maidens as Todmorden were bowled out for 149.
Driver also took 4-42 to help Accrington end a miserable five weeks which saw the team lose five out of six matches.
Accrington’s second team re-wrote the record books on Sunday at Todmorden. Len Dewhurst’s men hit a club record second team score of 319-8.
Jonathan Hayhurst and Stuart Crabtree both made centuries in a record stand of 203 for the second wicket. Hayhurst batted through the innings for an unbeaten 113 whilst Crabtree grabbed the opportunity to regain some form after a season long struggle for runs in the senior side to hit 124.
Accrington travel to Seedhill to play fourth placed Nelson on Saturday.
Former Rishton professional Aaron Heal put his old club to the sword in his current club Lowerhouse's nine-wicket win at Liverpool Road. The Australian took 4-19 and then hit an unbeaten 54 to see his side home with almost 10 overs to spare. Rishton, who were without Andy Bartley, Tiarnan Hamil and John Seedle were bowled out for 112 with skipper Craig Smith top scoring with 24. Rishton face a tough game on Saturday when they entertain league leaders Haslingden.
