DUNCAN Spencer, the last man to get his hands on the Lancashire League championship trophy, pulled the covers over his own career while Ramsbottom did their best to kiss goodbye to the millennium title.

Spencer's September Seedhill swansong finished with a flourish as he smacked successive boundaries to guarantee reigning champs Nelson a nine-wicket triumph over the men from Acre Bottom.

And to rub salt into gaping Rammy wounds, the main thorn in their side yesterday was home professional Keith Arthurton, the paid hand when they last finished top of the heap back in 1992!

Man of the moment yesterday though was Nelson skipper Spencer who announced his surprise decision to hang up his pads at the relatively early age of 35.

He explained: "It's all down to family reasons. My wife is pregnant and I just won't have the time. That isn't to say I won't miss it, of course I will. I have been playing in this league for close on two decades and was lucky enough to skipper the side to the title twice, both times with the superb Roger Harper. I have enjoyed it, every minute, and one thing I have learned is never to say never -- I won't be selling my bat just yet."

Spencer, reluctant to suggest a successor in the title stakes, believes Nelson have given a fair defence, but adds: "We could have done a lot better. Keith's (Arthurton) form has come a little late, but in recent weeks he has looked very very good indeed. We lost five games in a row during a very barren spell and had we just done average in that time we could have been challenging again. "It's been a close run thing this year but we knew from the moment we looked at the quality of the overseas players. Brad Hodge has done really well for Ramsbottom -- I for one hope he comes back for he is well worth watching."

Spencer, who admitted to dropping the visiting professional, did a lot of watching as Hodge steamed past the 1000-run mark by clocking up 81 out of a meagre Ramsbottom total of 122 all out, hitting a six and eight fours off just 107 balls.

He came in first wicket down with just a dozen on the board and departed as ninth man out with the total on 120. Mark Dentith was next top scorer and he managed just seven -- shades of a one man band?

Trevor Kegg took the bowling honours for Nelson with 5-38, but no one could have forecast just how easy the home side would find the chase.

Arthurton was majestic, scoring 11 boundaries in his undefeated 69 and Spencer finishing things off in style with two fours.

Nelson needed just over 25 overs to hit the required total in a game they dominated from first ball to last. Had Hodge failed then it would have been embarrassing. As it was, the spectators were still heading for home at just after 6.30pm.

It was Ramsbottom's first defeat since going down to Lowerhouse in mid-July and a crashing defeat at such a critical stage can hardly have boosted their confidence. In Hodge though they have a match winner. It remains to be seen whether his prolific runs prove enough. NELSON 124-1

RAMSBOTTOM 122

Nelson 12 pts

Ramsbottom 0 pts

RAMSBOTTOM

N Richardson c Spencer b Kegg 2

T Read lbw Kegg 4

Hodge c Bradley b Kegg 81

S Lord lbw Kegg 4

M Price lbw Kegg 0

M Dentith c Spencer b Nazir 7

S Read c Spencer b Nazir 3

R Hevingham lbw Arthurton 3

G Moreton lbw Arthurton 1

L Daggett not out 2

M Haslam c Bradley b Kegg 2

Extras 15

Total (all out) 122

Bowling: T Kegg 16.2-4-38-5; M Heap 10-2-31-1; K Nazir 9-1-30-2; Arthurton 9-1-20-2

NELSON

C Walton b Moreton 21

Arthurton not out 69

D Spencer not out 24

Extras 10

Total (1 wkt) 124

Bowling: M Haslam 5-0-26-0; L Daggett 4-0-10-0; g Moreton 5-2-21-1; Hodge 5-1-23-0; T Read 2-0-12-0; S Read 3-0-21-0; M Price 1.4-1-8-0