ASHTON-on-Mersey recorded a comfortable home win against struggling Lymm in Cheshire Cricket League Division One last weekend.

Choosing to bat first, Ashton lost early wickets as the excellent Syed Khan produced a fine new-ball burst to trouble all the home top order.

Alex O’Gara took the attack back to the bowlers before he also fell to Khan, leaving Ashton on 50-3.

Tom Scott and Ed Faulkner responded by posting a 70-run partnership before both went in quick succession.

Any threat of a middle-order wobble was banished by Craig Stow who batted superbly to guide the Ashton lower order through a potentially sticky patch.

Stow eventually fell in the final over for a fine 50, allowing Ashton to post a challenging total of 211-9 for the visitors. Khan deserved his figures of 3-35.

In reply, Lymm struggled against the new-ball attack of Stow and Andrew Roscow.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, Lymm found themselves in trouble at 82-5 but Jack Hughes launched a counter-attack to bring Lymm back into the game.

The introduction of Faulkner turned the game in Ashton’s favour and he produced the match-defining moment as he caught and bowled Hughes for 46.

The Lymm tail could not keep the run chase going and Faulkner cleaned up to finish with 6-52 as the visitors closed on 160.

This win keeps Ashton in fourth place, but with results elsewhere going against them they now only have an outside chance of promotion.

Ashton will be looking to keep the pressure on the teams above them when they visit Barton this weekend.

The Ashton second XI fell to defeat at Davenham.

They made 105 before Davenham reached 106-3.

The thirds fought out a draw at Sale as they made 124-6 (Ollie Chow 57 not out) in response to Sale's 186 (Chris Dyson 58).

The women’s team lost heavily at Leigh after being skittled for 51, Leigh making 52-0.