UNDER the superb leadership of skipper Paul Danson Blackpool maintained their unbeaten record in the Northern Premier League this season by inflicting a first defeat on visitors Lancaster at Stanley Park.

Lancaster batted first and on a pitch tailor made for runscoring they did not fully capitalise and ended up with 206-9 from their 57 overs. Blackpool's replay was beautifully paced and they won by six wickets at 207-4 with four overs and five balls of the final 20 overs remaining writes Gerry Wolstenholme.

Lancaster began strongly but Chris Taylor struck with the total at 17 when he had Craig Atkinson caught by Steve Mercer at backward square leg for 12.

Colin Abraham, dropped behind the wicket early in his innings, and David Heywood then took the total to 73 before the spin of Danson put a break on the scoring. Not only did he do that but he also took three wickets as firstly he lured Abraham, 30, down the track and he struck a catch to Martin Pickles at extra cover.

Then a long hop had David Heywood, 32, pulling straight into Tim Barry's hands at square leg at 98-3 and finally he had David Lord, four, wildly slogging a catch to mid-on where Steven Croft took an overhead catch at 110-5. In between Luke Phillips fell leg before wicket to Barry from the first ball he received.

The best batting of the innings followed as professional Renier Munnik and 17-year-old Lee Sparks gave a scintillating display, particularly the youngster who outscored his senior partner in a partnership that realised 70 in 44 minutes. He hit a six with a short arm jab and he added five fours as he made a sparkling 40 from only 44 balls. He fell when Justin Kreusch outfoxed him and hit the block hole and then the stumps and that was 180-6.

Thereafter Munnik did most of the scoring as he lost Ian Dawson, nought, bowled by Barry as he swung recklessly across the line, Craig Heywood, five, also bowled by Barry having been dropped behind from the previous ball, and Ben Simm, one, bowled by Kreusch. Graham Barnes ended with five not out and enabled Munnik to reach his half century as he finished with 54 not out from 94 balls with five fours. Danson took 3-56 and Barry 3-30 while Kreusch had 2-47 and Chris Taylor 1-35.

Blackpool began cautiously and had 15 on the board after 10 overs at which point Pickles lofted a catch to Simm at mid-on off Dawson and he was gone for 10. Mercer made 18 before Lord caught him off Munnik at 46-2. Croft and Barry then set about the bowling with some fine stroke play, the former playing two sweetly timed drives off Dawson that seemed to upset the bowler who was quickly removed from the attack.

The pair had put on 56 in 41 minutes when Croft, 43, charged Simm and found himself yorked and Blackpool were 102-3. Barry moved relentlessly to his half century but when he had added one run he was caught by Simm at deep square leg off Dawson at 134-4. This brought in 17-year-old Steve Metcalfe who had previously only been to the wicket once at this level and that for only a brief nought not out. This did not show as he was completely at ease and scored freely almost from his first ball. All the bowling came the same to him, and much of it was despatched the same way - to the boundary! He outscored the professional, making 46 not out from the 73 that they put on in just 48 minutes.

And his seventh four, a pull through mid-wicket won the game and with Kreusch 31 not out, Blackpool cruised home by six wickets at 207-4 to take 12 points that left them in second place in the table, one point behind Morecambe who have played a game more.

Lancaster 206-9

Blackpool 207-4

Blackpool was the only Fylde Coast success however for both Fleetwood and St Annes collapsed to lose to Chorley and Morecambe respectively. Tom Smith struck 107 for Chorley in their 201-5 and in reply only John Wright, 34, made much impression as Fleetwood collapsed to 115 all out to lose by 86 runs. And St Annes, after being 135-4 in reply to Morecambe's 176-9, lost their last six wickets for 21 runs to be all out for 156 and lose by 20 runs with skipper Steve Twist fighting to the end as he was ninth out for 40.

NORTHERN

PREMIER LEAGUE

Division One -- *Barrow 148, Preston 149/8 4-12 pts; Blackpool 207/4, *Lancaster 206/9 12-4 pts; *Chorley 201/5, Fleetwood 115 15-2 pts; Darwen 193, *Kendal 228/7 6-15 pts; *Morecambe 176/9, St Annes 156 15-5 pts; *Netherfield 264/5, Leyland Motors 116 15-2 pts.

Division Two -- Fleetwood 93, *Chorley 181/7 3-15 pts; *Kendal 90, Darwen 91/7 3-12 pts; *Lancaster 180, Blackpool 183/4 4-12 pts; *Leyland Motors 136, Netherfield 141/6 2-12 pts; Preston 182/8, *Barrow 235/4 5-10 pts; *St Annes 227/4, Morecambe 226/4 8-5 pts.

*Batted first.