BARNTON ended a near two-decade wait to reach the league’s top flight following an 85-run humbling of promotion rivals Haslington.

They finish as runners-up to Lymm as a reward.

The hosts were asked to bat after losing the toss, reaching 174 all out on a pitch that was in perfect condition despite heavy overnight rain.

Mike Cross (21) and Adam Garrod (43) put on 68 runs for the second wicket, before Rick Farnworth (22) and Jordan Cobley (17) struggled to build on solid starts.

Haslington captain Tom Gledhill (5-61) then found his rhythm, only for Ben Wingfield and skipper Simon Hancock to add a precious 27 for the final wicket.

After reaching 37-2 in reply, the next five wickets fell for just 12 runs thanks to spells from Neil Langham (3-37) and Cory Devanny (3-33).

News reached Broomsedge that Kingsley had collected maximum points against Oakmere, temporarily rising to second spot.

It inspired Garrod, who took the remaining wickets to leave Haslington all out for 89.

Steve Kitchen returned career-best figures for Kingsley, taking seven wickets in a rout of Oakmere, but it was not enough to pinch a promotion place.

They finished six points short.

Captain Toby Mullins (64) and Ben Stoddart (46) helped the Crofters to 155-6 on Saturday, while Matthew Howard (3-40) was most successful with the ball.

Kitchen (7-20) then repeated his trick from last weekend’s hammering of Lymm, ripping through Oakmere’s order to skittle them for 46.

It means Kingsley end the campaign with a sequence of four wins from five matches.

Mullins reflected: “I’m pleased with how we played during the run-in.

“Promotion was out of our hands, but it was still an outstanding effort.”

Winnington ended a four-match sequence without a win by beating champions Lymm at the Rec.

Set a target of 122 to win, they struggled to 43-5 and 77-8 before a 48-run partnership between Ben Coulbeck (30no) and Sam Barnes (15no) saw them over the line.

Earlier, openers Matthew Carr (24) and Steve Knowles (47) had started positively before both were removed by Coulbeck, who took 5-35 from 10 overs.

Rob Begbie (2-26), Iain Connor (2-2) and Martin Evans (1-2) – in his first bowling spell of the season – were also among the wickets as the innings closed on 121 all out.

Winsford, already relegated, bowed out of the league with a 67-run defeat away to Sandbach.

They dismissed the hosts for 149, with Danny Holton (3-14) the pick of an attack in which Andy Etchells, Craig Edmundson and Andrew Simpson claimed braces.

However they succumbed for just 82 in reply, Marcus Wyatt (25) the leading scorer.

Results

TACS Partnership Cheshire League

Division Two, Saturday: Barnton 174 Haslington 89; Bunbury 184 Woodford 109; Chester CO 157-4 dec Chelford 161-5; Kingsley 155-6 dec Oakmere 42; Stockport 80-6 Ashley 120; Winnington 125-8 Lymm 121.

Division Three: Alderley Park 184-2 dec Aston 140-5; Langley 137-3 Cholmondeley 136-9; Over Peover 207-6 dec Wilmslow Wayfarers 119; Port Sunlight 257-6 dec Wirral 165; Sandbach 149 Winsford 82; Wilmslow 138-6 CH Ladybridge 174-5 dec.