ASHTON on Mersey crashed to their first Cheshire Cricket league Division One defeat of the season on a dramatic day at The Beets against Bredbury.

In a rain interrupted match, Ashton’s decision to bowl first looked a good one as the visitors struggled to come to terms with a pitch which gave early help to the seamers.

Darren Carr’s 32 held the innings together but progress was slow as Bredbury crawled to a modest 128-9 off their 45 overs. Several rains breaks interrupted proceedings but the Ashton bowlers all coped well with the difficult conditions and at the break the smart money was on the home team.

But Bredbury had aces up their sleeve in the form of veteran opening bowlers Chris Wood and John Usher.

Using the conditions superbly, Wood and Usher ripped through the usually potent Ashton batting line up, exploiting a drying pitch to full advantage.

In a torrid passage of play nine wickets fell for just 24 runs as Ashton were put to the sword.

With decisions going against them, even a last-wicket stand between Mark Weighill and Josh Knowles could only delay the inevitable as they were skittled out for 68.

Woods (5-26) and Usher (5-40) have seldom bowled better in tandem and Ashton were unlucky to come up against their exceptional performances.

Despite the loss Ashton remain clear at the top of the table as results elsewhere also reflected the influence of a rainy day. They were be looking to get their championship chase back on track on Saturday when they welcome Barton to The Beets.

In the clash between the second XIs, Ashton fared far better as they posted a comfortable win after bowling Bredbury out cheaply.