CHORLEY’S season hit a low point on Saturday as their batting failed once again as they crashed to a shock defeat at the hands of lowly Carnforth in the Northern League.

Only two Chorley men managed double figures as they failed to chase down a more than gettable 187 at Lodge Quarry en-route to a heavy defeat as Carnforth celebrated their first success of the season.

Andy Holdsworth won the toss and put Carnforth in and Kieran McCullagh bowled Robert Parker for four and when Billy Smith knocked over home pro and former Rawtenstall and Accrington all-rounder Toby Bulcock for 24 the home side were rocking.

Darren Moore made 21 and Adam Hornby hit 11 – but the main contribution came from opener Ryan Nelson, who batted with patience for 66.

Even then the last pair of Adam Cowperthwaite (10 not out) and Matt Weller (27 not out) needed to score runs in order to get Carnforth up to 187-9 from 50 overs with McCullagh and Will Moulton both claiming three wickets..

Holdsworth and Adam Peacock both perished cheaply as Chorley replied but the middle order turned into a disaster zone as Jack Bentham, Alex Weetman, Stuart Naden, and Michael Critchley all departed for ducks.

Moulton was one of Cowperthwaite’s six victims when he had made 26, while Alex Howarth and McCullagh also went without troubling the scorers.

Pro Guarav Dhar made 56 not out as he tried his best to take Chorley over the line but when last man Smith was pinned leg before by Parker for 18 the locals were 124 all out.

Darwen were also beaten – but their Birch Hall meeting with Fleetwood was a thriller.

Professional Shaun De Kock claimed 6-35 and Chris Wade chipped in with 3-55 from 20 overs as Fleetwood were 154 all out with 53 from Adam Parker the main contribution And in reply several Darwen men got starts with Alex Davies (29), De Kock (30) and Daniel Fradd (21) looking good as they pushed on.

But down the order only John Cordingley (17) and Andrew Brown (13) could get the scoreboard ticking over and when Mark Bennett was run out it was 137-9.

But Nathan Jackson and Wade tried to play their way over the line in a dramatic finish and it seemed as though they would lead the Towers home until Jackson was caught by Adam Sharrocks off Parker and the locals were 148 all out.