Baxenden skipper Andy Caunce says there is no need to press the panic button despite his side slipping down the league table and out of the cup.

Bash had commanded top spot in the Ribblesdale League after an unbeaten start to the campaign but they have lost their last three league games.

And, as the Ramsbottom Cup holders, they exited that competition at the semi-final stage on Sunday after a big-hitting loss to title rivals Read.

They need to bounce back and there is no better chance than tomorrow when they take on Barnoldswick who have usurped them at the top of the table.

Barlick have a 16-point lead on third-placed Bash and, with 12 points up for grabs, Caunce knows it’s a must-win game for his side.

"I wish I could put my finger on what has gone wrong for us in the last few games as we haven’t changed the side much," said the Back Lane skipper, in charge for his first season.

"Liam Riley has missed the last two weekends due to work commitments but hopefully he can play for the rest of the season.

"Saying that Simon Payne came in and did a quality job on Sunday so we can’t really blame it on any one thing.

"If I look back at the games, we haven’t lost them by much and these were games we were probably winning at the start of the season.

"We have lost by eight runs in one, in the last over in another and by 20 runs so they have been tight games.

"We certainly won’t panic as we are still in with a shout but we need a couple of people to step up, including me."

Caunce admits, after sampling the nice side of captaincy with a team who couldn’t seem to stop winning, he is now facing the opposite side of the coin.

"I guess I am under a bit of scrutiny now – you watch what you do now more, but I am still loving being captain and enjoying playing and it is something we have to come through.

"There is nothing much I can change but perhaps at the start of the season the lower order were making vital contributions and now they are not chipping in as much, I include myself in this. We have been giving away some wickets cheaply.

"We were getting away with things at the start of the season which we aren’t now but we are still in with a shout on two fronts for silverware and we will keep battling."

Bash are doing well in the Twenty20 competition, winning the group stages without a loss and they have got a home semi-final against Whalley to come, on a date yet to be decided.

They could come up against local rivals Great Harwood in the final as they face Settle at home in the other semi-final, with the final to be at the winners of this tie.

And the league is not yet out of Caunce’s sight with Barlick, Read and Bash the realistic contenders.

"Every game against the top three now is a cup final and tomorrow is no different. We have got to pull our fingers out," added the Bash skipper.

Caunce, while disappointed at the semi-final Read defeat, was accepting that Bash didn’t deserve to win on the day.

"I said last week, the best team will win on the day and I have no complaints – Read were the best team although we did throw a couple of wickets away," Caunce said.

"But the confidence is still there, we are not getting too down on ourselves.

"Barnoldswick are getting wins at the right time but we are confident we can bounce back."

While Baxenden are struggling to find their form, Oswaldtwistle Imma-nuel came out on top in a big-hitting game at Cherry Tree.

Cherry Tree made 234, with Ossie’s best bowler Stephen Sipocz taking an impressive 4-33.

Immanuel set about the total with purpose with Ramiz Hussain and Oliver Jones putting on 51 for the opening wicket before Hussain fell for 23.

But pro Chris Cook-Martin took up the mantle and he and Jones enjoyed a second-wicket stand of 113 to take the score to 172-2.

While Jones’ innings was impressive with 71 from 110 balls, which included 11 boundaries, Cook-Martin’s was certainly the more entertaining.

The paid man hit a quick-fire 88 from just 59 balls with 13 boundaries and two sixes and is just 13 off 500 league runs.

Last season’s captain Imran Abid made a vital late 22 as Immanuel celebrated a four-wicket win with just five balls to spare.

Great Harwood chalked up their sixth win of the league campaign as pro Syed Shahabuddin hit 88 which took his league tally to 650 runs for the campaign.

Russell Whalley’s 33 and an unbeaten 34 from Amar Ullah set Earby 203 for the victory.

Shahabuddin then took five wickets and Stuart Maher and Paul Houldsworth two each in their 26-run victory.