JUST when it mattered most Atherton produced one of the Bolton Association season's lacklustre displays.

They fell to Walshaw on Sunday, wiping out hopes of faint hopes of grabbing the title.

And on Monday, as Walshaw clinched the crown, Atherton were thrashed by seven wickets at Blackrod.

Against Walshaw, they were restricted to 132-9 with Jonathan Hyde 21 and Chris Partington 20. That was never going to be good enough, the visitors easing home by six wickets.

Against Blackrod, they could muster only 134-7 with Andy Hall top scorer on 46.

Golborne scored a 30-run win against Darcy Lever. They hit 167-9 with Carl Hewitt 64 and Ian Critchley 32, then Critchley took 5-29 and Graham Marston 2-14 as the visitors fell at 137.

On Monday Golborne consolidated second spot by beating Daisy Hill. Chasing 118, Critchley was twice dropped (on five and 17) before going to a match-winning 75.

Rain halted a thriller at Astley & Tyldesley. Chasing Edgworth's 213-6, Rob Bennett hit 85 (including 50 in 40 balls) and Steve Nicklin 36 before the washout.

The Association U11s beat Tameside by 72 runs at A&T. They hit 163-3 with Atherton's Karl Brown scoring a league record 89. He followed up with 2-5 in three overs. On Sunday the U11s are at New Mills, facing Cheshire League.

GLAZEBURY survived a batting collapse to beat Eccleston in a nail-biting climax.

All-rounder Jon Gibbons was MoM after taking 4-13, then hitting a super 56 in 130-8.

They were chasing 129, Tom Milmine having taken 2-7, but almost crashed out from 99-1 to 128-8.

Phil Gibbons, playing his first game for several years, hitting the winning run.

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