NORTHWOOD TOWN pulled off a dramatic victory to stun leaders Northchurch on Saturday, August 17, inflicting on them only their second defeat of the season, and dragging Town firmly back into the promotion picture.

Town were aware that victory was paramount if they were to remain in the reckoning for the top four, and a stunning bowling display secured a vital 30 points.

Batting first, Town were pegged back by the visitor's bowlers.

Dan Botten carved out 18, while Mike Peacock scored a solid 31. However, Town's batsmen couldn't build on promising openings, and, at 114-8, the hosts were in desperate trouble.

Jake Eastwood slammed a quick-fire 15 before Peter Woodruff (17) and Dave Bushnell (17 not out) came to the crease to share what would prove to be a critical partnership of 36, but Town were dismissed for 146, which looked a low total for the league leaders to chase.

Town's bowlers got off to the best possible start when Richard Doling trapped the Australian opener lbw with no runs on the board.

However, Northchurch recovered their composure, and, at 113-3, looked well set for a comfortable victory.

But the introduction of spinner Peter Hornett turned the game for Town, and with Doling bowling superbly at the other end, Northchurch began to struggle.

Hornett produced a memorable display of 4-21 off 14.4 overs, and was virtually unplayable throughout. Doling took his incredible 51st league wicket of the season with another five wicket display (5-70), and the game was on a knife edge at the end as the visitors required just five runs, while Town needed the final wicket.

Hornett dramatically produced it and Town moved up to sixth, just two places off promotion.

Skipper Phil Carter was understandably elated with the victory, and said: "It was a superb effort by the bowlers, and we managed to hold all our catches.

"We probably had the two best bowling attacks in the division here today, but I still felt we were possibly 30 runs short, so full credit to our attack."

Meanwhile, a slipshod batting display saw Langleybury second XI crash to their seventh defeat of the season away at Northampton Exiles, having earlier put themsleves in pole position in the field.

Bury, skippered by Sean Palmer in the absence of Cliff Spinks, appeared to make a mockery of Exiles' decision to bat first as they produced an outstanding display in the field to dismiss the home side for 133.

Herts' Under-19 skipper Ross Channer was undoubtedly the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-42 in arguably his best spell of the season.

Bury's reply was nothing short of disastrous as five of the top six mustered just 11 runs between them, as Bury looked in dire trouble at 22-5.

Hitan Dave and Mick How staged a breif recovery, adding 38 for the sixth wicket, before How was given out to an controversial lbw decision.

Dave (13) and Eddie Gunning (20), surprisingly batting at eight, added some useful runs for the seventh wicket, but the damage had already been done as Bury were shot out for 91.

August 23, 2002 12:00