DARWEN’S dreams of representing the Chorley Building Society Northern League in the regional finals of the ECB Twenty20 competition ended  in the Lake District sunshine.

Jordan Clarke’s men breezed into finals day of the league’s TWP Wealth Twenty20 finals day after an impressive passage through their group.

And they impressed in their semi-final at Netherfield’s Parkside Road ground as they upset cup holders Fleetwood.

Clarke stepped up to the plate with the bat and made 55 not out as his men posted 132-9 from their 20 overs – and any hopes Fleetwood had of chasing that down were shattered by professional Alan Kruger, who claimed four quick wickets.

In the end they needed 25 off the final over – and were short meaning the Towers were in the final against Netherfield, who had beaten Preston in the day’s first game.

But the showpiece started in dreadful fashion for the locals as both Clarke and Kruger were out before a run had been scored.

Given that start, the Towers did well to get up to 124 – but the home side, spurred on by a big and boistrous crowd, coasted to 38 without loss inside four overs and by the time seven overs had gone they were halfway there.

They did slow down to a degree in the second part of their innings – but still eased home in some style to leave Darwen wondering what might have been.