PRESTWICH rewrote the history books when they clinched the Walkden Cup defeating Glossop by 11 runs on Sunday at the Heys.

Five of the previous six finals under the Lancashire County League banner had been won by sides batting first and to reach this year's final Glossop had gone to the crease first in every game, racking up over 200 in each instance and then restricting the opposition to far less.

But having been rolled over by Prestwich for just 85 in a league match the previous day, and with a wet outfield, the Peakmen ignored the precedents and inserted the home side when they won the toss.

Hey (38) and Duxbury (33) gave their side a great start with 53 for the first wicket and with more solid contributions from Orrell (47) and Varney (28), a total of around 225 looked possible.

But in the quest for runs, the middle and late order fell apart with only Humphreys (19) and O'Connor (11 no) reaching double figures.

However, while disappointed with their final score of 201-9 Prestwich would have gladly settled for that prior to a ball being bowled.

When the visitors' reply got under way, Bradley had Rowbottom dropped second ball when wicketkeeper Barnes could not quite cling onto a diving catch. It could have proved decisive as the Glossop skipper went on to bat through the innings for 68. But credit to the Prestwich youngster, who had the unenviable task of donning the gloves for the day in place of the brilliant Billy Taylor, and he knuckled down admirably, conceding just five byes.

It was Duxbury who made the early breakthrough, trapping Harwick lbw, and then Orrell played his trump card, bringing Humphreys on for a first bowl in months due to injury.

His first ball went for six but O'Connor hung on to a spectacular catch later in the same over to dismiss Stopford and earn himself the sponsor's award for the "Champagne Moment".

Two more wickets for Humphreys and another for Duxbury left the Peakmen reeling on 43-5 but Andy Dyson then joined his skipper and played his side back into contention with a knock of 51, giving him the "Man of the Match" prize.

Higginson bowled his 10-over spell for an economical 30 runs, but the Glossop pair lifted the score to 146 and were pulling the trophy very definitely towards Derbyshire territory until Hey caught Dyson off Mercer.

If that soothed the home supporters' nerves, new batsman Adam Wilson soon had them worrying again with a quick-fire 25 that once more gave the visitors a sniff of success.

Prestwich bowlers Bradley and Mercer were now under immense pressure, especially when Wilson despatched the former for four with ten balls still remaining, but Bradley had immediate revenge bowling Wilson and with three dot balls following, it left Glossop needing 18 off the final over.

Mercer kept a calm head and it was too much for the Peakmen with an incredibly tense game coming to an end with the cup back in Prestwich for the first time since 1933.