ASHTON-on-Mersey fell to their first defeat of the season by 79 runs against a powerful Congleton side at The Beets.

Losing the toss and having to bowl first, Ashton found the Congleton batsmen in fine form with runs coming quickly in the opening overs of the Cheshire Cricket League Division One clash.

But Ashton stuck to the task and, with concentration in the field, they took wickets regularly, not allowing any of the Congleton players to pass 30.

Spinner Ed Faulkner was again the leading wicket-taker with 3-32 and at the turn around Ashton would have been satisfied they had restricted the visitors to what seemed a par score of 177-8.

In reply, Ashton lost early wickets but with Craig Stow and Faulkner beginning to take control, Ashton were well in the game.

But when Faulkner was adjudged lbw, the reply stalled and Stow had to work hard with Tom Scott to maintain the challenge.

Having taken the score to 93 it seemed a tight finish was in prospect, but the introduction of John Copeland’s spin turned the game in Congleton’s favour.

Copeland removed both Scott and Stow, and then proceeded to complete a hat-trick as Ashton slumped from 96-5 to 98 all out.

Copeland finished with the remarkable figures of 6-4, as the Ashton lower order capitulated.

This was a match which, for long periods, was a good even contest between bat and ball, and Ashton will feel they did not do themselves justice at the business end of the game.

While they will point to numerous decisions not going in their favour, they will need to look to improvements in application if they are to maintain a challenge this season.

A weakened second XI also fell to defeat at Congleton, Ashton making 93 all out and Congleton reaching 94-4.

The third XI provided one of the weekend highlights with a magnificent victory in a run fest at Bollington.

A hard-working bowling effort kept the home side down to 233-6, which looked a daunting total before Lee Griffiths (107) and Graham Parker (64) put on 181 for the opening wicket in Ashton's reply.

Muhammad Farjad and Conner Kearney saw Ashton to a memorable victory with four overs to spare.

The women's XI made it a super Sunday for Ashton with a 139-run win at Wistaston Village.

Ashton posted an impressive 191-5 before bowling out the hosts for just 52.