Audlem gain 25 points at Mossley

Audlem made the short journey to Congleton to play old rivals Mossley hoping to continue their excellent recent form. Having had some bad recent experiences chasing small totals at Mossley, skipper Chris Shenton had no hesitation in batting first hoping to put some pressure on the home team. 

The Audlem innings got of to the worst possible start with skipper Shenton being judged LBW in just the third over having failed to trouble the scorers. Jim Littlewood joined Andy Capper and together they looked comfortable at the crease adding 44 for the second wicket. The breakthrough came when Will Grisedale bowled a short ball to Littlewood who pulled tamely into the hands of opposing skipper Andy Saddler, falling for a well made 23. 

Young leg spinner Peter Stirk entered the attack and after producing some prodigious turn soon had Andy Capper plum LBW with a straight quicker ball.  Reduced to 47 for 3, Audlem set about rebuilding their innings through Tom Measures and Rich Wilson. Wilson looked on top form from the off, but whilst he rarely looked troubling at the other end, Measures was struggling to find any sort of form.

After valiantly sticking around to help the score to 87 Measures eventually fell caught brilliantly in the gully by youngster Kev Cameron. Andy Rothwell joined the still fluent Wilson and they added a quick 56 with wilson effortlessly passing his 50.  But when Rothwell (20), Wilson (52) and Leese (2) fell in quick succession, all to the accurate Rob Mellor, Audlem were 146 for 7, still short of the 175 needed for maximum batting points.

Oli Burney came to the crease and pulled his first ball the the boundary, but when he was dubiously given out LBW Audlem chances of reaching 175 were gone.  Their innings eventually finished on 165 for 7.
 
Audlem knew if they bowled well they had every chance of bowling Mossley out, and getting danger man and skipper Andy Sadler brilliantly caught by Andy Rothwell at mid on of the bowling of Stuart Elkes for just 15 was the perfect start.  Youngsters Ryan Walker and Matt Ben-Accomb played very well to add 20 for the third wicket, but with the introduction of spinner Lyndon Woodcock, the game changed dramatically. Together with Jim Littlewood, they destroyed the Mossley batting line up.  Woodcock had Walker trapped LBW and when Littlewood brilliantly caught and bowled Ben Accomb Audlem sensed victory was in the air.

Woodcock took the next three wickets all caught by skipper Shenton at first slip, and when a gutsy innings from Tony Brown came to an end, caught superbly on the square leg boundary by Oli Burney, Audlem were nearly there.  Woodcock soon wrapped the innings up with only Pete Stirk putting up any resistance.  Mossley dismissed for just 114.  Woodcock finished with the superb figures of 6-41 of 11 overs, ably supported by Littlewood's 3 for 30 of 10.
 
Audlem gained a maximum 25 points and Mossley just 6. Audlem host Ellesmere Port next week, the only team to inflict defeat on them this year. Anybody wishing to support the club please feel free to come along with the game starting at 2pm. There is bar available for refreshments. 

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