RAMSBOTTOM spinner Jon Fielding hopes their season has started as they mean to go on.

The Acre Bottom side lock horns with Church for the second time in as many weekends, after knocking them out of the Worsley Cup at the first round stage last Sunday.

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Fielding expects their opponents will be out for revenge.

But with Ramsbottom third going into the game, he is confident of remaining hot on the heels of the top two.

Unbeaten Burnley lead the way after six games – with five wins and one ‘no result’.

Their neighbours, Lowerhouse, are close behind after two rain-affected games restricted their numbers of wins to four.

But Fielding wants Ramsbottom to put the pressure on the early pace setters.

“Sometimes when all the pressure is on and you don’t want to lose it can affect you, so being second or third in the chasing pack is not a bad place to be,” said the former captain. “But we’ve got to get a bit of a run together.

“The season has started quite well but we’ve had a couple of blips.

“We had a mixed weekend last weekend with a disappointing defeat to Rawtenstall at home.

“Every year we seem to win one and lose one to Rawtenstall. We didn’t play to our full potential, and if you don’t against a good side like them you can’t expect to win.

“But we picked up five points so it wasn’t the end of the world.

“Then we bounced back in the cup against a difficult Church side. We bowled really well as a unit and we didn’t throw our wickets away.

“It was slow going, but we got over the line eventually.”

Fielding expects professional Daryn Smit to have a big impact on their league ambitions.

“He’s brilliant with bat and ball,” he said. “As a bowling unit we’ve got experienced players like Simon Read and Mick Haslam, who make up the bowling with myself and Daryn.”

Fielding is enjoying being able to call 15-year-old son Brad a team-mate too.

“I was very proud when he made his debut last year. He was only 14 at the time and I think he was the youngest player to play for Ramsbottom,” said the 42-year-old.

“It’s nice to play together.”

Tomorrow’s Lancashire League fixtures: Accrington v Rishton, Bacup v Lowerhouse, Burnley v Rawtenstall, Church v Ramsbottom, East Lancs v Enfield, Haslingden v Colne, Nelson v Todmorden.