IT all seemed to be going so well when Blackpool declared on 211 for five after 59 overs of their Northern Premier League game at Leyland.

The total was built around a knock of 51 by opener Gavin Armstrong and 52 from captain Mark Lomas.

And Blackpool must have been feeling even more confident when Marcus Sharp trapped opener Rimmer lbw with just 26 on the board. But they had reckoned without the "super sub".

South African substitute professional Martin Van Jaarsveld hammered the bowling to such effect that he and Munaf Bavla put on 183 for the second wicket. Eventually Van Jaarsveld, who plays for Enfield in the Lancashire League, hit the winning boundary to take Leyland to 213 for two in 49.1 overs. Ironically the stand-in pro finished just one run short of a century, while Bavla hit 88 before being bowled by Sharp.

St Annes also saw their hopes of victory dashed at Darwen. They batted first and scored 212 for six which included an unbeaten 93 from professional David Callaghan and 40 from Joe Davies.

Then Dave Taylor (3-19) and Callaghan (2-27) ripped the heart out of the Darwen top order and the home side were in desperate trouble at 74-5 when rain brought play to an end.

The winning draw meant second-placed St Annes fell further behind leaders Netherfield who beat Leyland Motors. Blackpool are fourth in the Division One table, a point behind Chorley.