Oulton Park can breathe easy

Halting a six-match losing run in the county league’s top-flight when they did last month will have prevented serious concern.

They have now won two of their past three matches, and a distance of 83 points makes the bottom two feel remote again.

Captain Patrick Roberts would like to play against Marple every week; both of his half-centuries this season have come against them, including an unbeaten 70 that steadied his side’s innings last Saturday.

Meanwhile a victory at home to Bramhall this weekend would move them closer to the Premier Division table’s top six.

READ: Oulton prove too strong for Marple

A batting disaster for Davenham

Their bid to beat Upton was over before it started, and the men from Butcher’s Stile have now lost four successive matches in Division One.

Their next game, at Urmston, is one of the most important during a tricky run-in.

A head-to-head with Stockport, who currently occupy the second relegation spot, looms on the final day of the campaign.

However it’s unlikely Danny Hancock’s men would want a survival shoot-out if they can avoid it.

Urmston were narrow three-run victors in a previous meeting between the teams back in May.

READ: Slow start costs Davenham dear

Work to do for Weaverham

A victory for their rivals in a battle to beat the drop, Mobberley and Tattenhall, means that a 106-run reverse at home to Christleton sent Weaverham into the bottom two.

It leaves them 14 points adrift of a position of safety ahead of a derby meeting with Northwich at Moss Farm on Saturday.

Four of the Russets’ remaining matches are away from home, including a crucial encounter with back-markers Runcorn later this month, which makes their task more difficult.

However they have demonstrated their resilience in the past few weeks.

READ: Work to do yet for Weaverham

Kingsley seek to end hoodoo

A sixth successive win in the Cheshire League at least sends them into a meeting with bogey side Port Sunlight in the best possible form.

The Crofters have lost their past five meetings with the Ellesmere Port outfit in all competitions, including on two occasion this season.

However an incentive for Toby Mullins’ men is a chance to overtake their third-placed guests if they prevail.

That won’t be easy, and a collapse to 40 all out in the return represents pretty much the only low point in a campaign of highs for the promoted side.

READ: Kingsley reach target at Haslington

Oakmere’s bowlers deserve praise

Slade Mitrovich, quite rightly, has received plenty of attention after amassing close to 750 runs in league matches for the men from Overdale Lane.

However three bowlers – Nick Guest, Matt Howard and Matt Norton – have all taken more than 30 wickets in the sam period.

The latter of those was their match-winner at Maritime, where the Division Two leaders were bowled out for 112, with a five-wicket haul that helped humble the home team for 89.

It means Craig Phelan’s men have won 14 of their 16 games to date.

READ: Norton inspires Oakmere's recovery

Middlewich collect precious points

A scramble to avoid relegation from the Cheshire League’s second division is among the most keenly-contested.

Middlewich did their hopes a world of good by beating fellow-strugglers Poynton last weekend.

It will be a huge boost in confidence for the men from Haddon Field, who still have two head-to-heads with other teams in the table’s lower reaches before the end of the campaign.

“We’re determined to go on a run now,” said captain Phil Parry.

READ: Boost for Middlewich in survival fight