ASHTON-on-Mersey finished the season with a comprehensive victory over already relegated Prestbury.

Batting first after winning the toss, Ashton lost both openers early as the new ball moved around on a responsive pitch.

Tom Scott soon settled to the task of building a total for the home side.

Cautiously at first, but with growing confidence, Scott wore down the Prestbury attack while putting away anything loose.

Scott and James Marshall put on 145 for the third wicket before Marshall fell for 40.

That brought Ed Faulkner to the crease who joined Scott in an assault on the visitors' bowling.

Scott posted his 100 at better than a run-a-ball, finally falling for a splendid 125.

Faulkner kept up the pressure, finishing on an unbeaten 69 to allow Ashton to top 300 for the first time this season as they closed on 309-6.

In reply, Prestbury found Faulkner in form with the ball, accounting for both openers before the score passed 40.

But any thoughts of a Prestbury collapse were soon dispelled as their middle order showed great fight to graft out runs and to keep close to the challenging run rate required.

Led by Stuart Burnell, the visitors moved past 150, before the introduction of spinner Mike Roberts turned the game in Ashton’s favour.

Bowling with probing accuracy, Roberts removed Burnell for a well-made 49, going on to record figures of 4-38 as the Prestbury challenge faded.

Faulkner finished with 4-88 as the spin twins bowled Ashton to victory by 80 runs as Prestbury were all out for 229.

Ashton finished fourth in the league in a season of many positives.

Their strength in depth with the bat has been a hallmark of the season and that will hopefully form the foundation of a title challenge in 2019.

The second team also rounded off the season with a fine win at Northwich.

Ashton made 195-9 (Sam Gupta 72) before Northwich were 170 all out (Simon James 66).