DARWEN’S Northern League title dreams were officially ended as a rampant Morecambe secured the silverware in style.

Jordan Clarke’s side knew the game was pretty much up after losing to the league leaders last weekend.

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That meant the coastal side needed to beat Preston at West Cliff on Saturday to make sure of the title.

Josh Dixon’s side were put in after Preston won the toss and they made 220 for 2, with Suraj Randiv scoring 82 and Mark Woodhead 65.

Preston were bowled out for just 58, with Randiv taking 4-12 and Edward Read 3-25 as the celebrations began early for Morecambe.

Darwen moved back into second with a win over Netherfield at Birch Hall.

Clarke’s side were put into bat and it was a shaky start for the Towers as Ammer Mirza (4), John Painter (0) and Raheel Majeed (0) all fell early.

But John Cordingley steadied the ship with an unbeaten 92, and he was supported by Mark Friend (58), David Bowden (55) and Clarke (24) as the hosts finished their 50 overs on 256-7.

Netherfield finished 32 runs short but the fact they got anywhere near the target was thanks to opener Richard Potter who struck 131.

Marc Brown was next top scorer for the visitors with just 20 and apart from Potter only three players made double figures.

Potter was sixth man out as Netherfield were bowled out for 224, with Bowden completing a fine all-round performance by taking 6-41.

Chorley slipped to eighth in the table as defeat to Lancaster at Lune Road saw the hosts move above them.

A tight bowling performance from Ian Dickson’s side saw Lancaster restricted to 146-7 from their 50 overs.

James Lee took 4-29 with Chris Harty taking two wickets and Keiran McCullagh one, while Brendan Hetherington’s unbeaten 27 was the highest score for the home side.

But Chorley found batting just as tricky and they slumped to 83-7 before Edwin Moulton (30) and McCullagh (41) came together.

They moved the visitors to within touching distance of victory only for Iain Burstow to dismiss them both as Lancaster eventually edged home by three runs, with Matthew Liver (4-60) and Ben Simm (3-55) also in the wickets.

Fleetwood saw Darwen jump above them as they were beaten by 10 wickets by St Annes.

Matthew Grindley took 6-64 for St Annes in the Fylde Coast derby as Fleetwood were restricted to 164-9.

St Annes cruised home without losing a wicket as Adam Holt made 109 off just 116 balls.

Elsewhere Kendal were out for 66 by Barrow, who won by 10 wickets, and Leyland chased 200 against Penrith thanks to Lancashire batsman Luis Reece’s unbeaten 106.