A WOEFUL batting performance by Blackpool at Stanley Park saw Chorley win the Northern Premier League clash comfortably by eight wickets.

The game was over six minutes after four o'clock with some spectators still arriving as Blackpool were humbled for just 56 and Chorley replied with 58-2.

It all began well for Blackpool as Martin Pickles and Chris Simcock put on 22 for the first wicket.

Along the way, Pickles was dropped at gully by Tom Smith and two slack pieces of Chorley fielding gifted Blackpool seven overthrows.

Then the ever-dangerous Stephen John struck at 22 when he had Pickles caught behind by Neil Senior for 15.

Without a run added John had Steven Croft adjudged leg before wicket before taking two wickets in two balls.

He dismissed skipper Mark Lomas for four when he was caught behind, a decision over which the umpire deliberated long and hard, and then he bowled professional Deon Kruis with a superb inswinging yorker. That left Blackpool on the ropes at 26-4.

It became 33-5 when Simcock was caught at slip by John off Tom Smith for six. John, 4-15, had to retire from the attack with a slight back twinge but his replacement, Ross Demming, was an adequate replacement as he took 3-3 in five overs.

He produced a delightful slower ball to bowl Paul Danson for nine, had Steve Mercer caught at gully by Tom Smith for five and had Paul Sidebotham caught behind for one.

That was 50-8 and just to compound matters Martin Hackett was run out when called for an impossible single.

David Creswell made three before he was caught behind off Bill Smith and with John Caunce three not out Blackpool, with the help of 10 extras, were all out for an embarrassing 56.

Chorley's reply began badly with the in-form Tom Smith being caught behind by Hackett off Kruis for nought.

Ian Mawdsley made 16 before Caunce took a spectacular diving catch in the gully off Kruis and Chorley were 25-2.

But that was the last of the alarms as Fazackerley, 19 not out, and Nigel Heaton, 20 not out all in boundaries, wrapped up the game at 58-2 after just 13 overs.

The early finish at Stanley Park gave ample time for a trip to St Annes where the home side had made 214-4 aided by 84 not out from Stephen Twist and a quick-fire 55 not out from Adam Cotton.

Morecambe's reply began badly, livened up and then died as the St Annes bowlers exerted pressure on the later batsmen.

Two wickets were lost for nine runs then stand-in professional Johan Louw made 43 before he was caught in the deep by Twist off Geoff Love.

Phil Dennison, having survived a confident appeal for a catch at the wicket off Twist, made 55 before Gareth Evans took a brilliant catch at point off Roger Banks and skipper Phil Thornton hit two sixes in his 24. But Morecambe could not keep the momentum going and had to settle for a draw at 205-8.

Fleetwood meanwhile succumbed at Darwen where the home side made 191-5 and then bowled the visitors out for 74 to win by 117 runs.

St Annes advanced to the third round of the National Knock-Out Cup on Sunday at Vernon Road courtesy of victory over Leyland Motors.

Motors batted first and made 165-8 in their 45 overs to which St Annes replied with 166-2 to earn an eight-wicket win with 10 overs remaining.

After losing an early wicket with the total on 11, Motors prospered through Phil Iddon, 34, and James Aspinwall, 58, who put on 65 runs for the second wicket in 16 overs.

Adam Cotton bowled Iddon and then there was a flurry of wickets from Roger Banks, Cotton and Richard Thomas coupled with a run out that left Motors at 106-6.

With the total at 116, Aspinwall was caught by Russ Bradley off Twist having hit seven fours in his excellent 76-ball innings.

Makinson, father and son, David and Andrew, then put on a most entertaining 58 runs in 14 overs before Makinson senior was smartly stumped by Duncan Whalley off Twist for 24 in the final over.

Makinson junior ended with a most creditable 25 not out as Motors closed on 165-8. Twist was the most successful bowler with 3-26 and Cotton had 2-28.

In reply Adrian Darlington and Gareth Evans put on 31 for the first wicket before the latter was caught at slip by David Makinson off the steady Iqbal Lilley for 16.

Darlington and Twist, looking in ominously good form, then added 65 runs in 12 overs before the former was leg before wicket to David Makinson for 37.

Duncan Whalley joined Twist and with some enterprising batting the pair took St Annes to victory at 166-2 by scoring 70 runs from 12 overs. Twist ended on 67 not out from 81 balls with five fours and Whalley had 31 not out.