CHERRY Tree skipper Jon Baldwin reckons it would be impossible for Baxenden to complete a perfect season - and believes his men could be the ones to spring a major surprise and send the runaway Ribblesdale League leaders tumbling out of the Ramsbottom Cup tomorrow.

Baldwin’s boys welcome Ian Austin’s outfit to Preston Old Road in the quarter-finals of the competition and knows it is a major ask to topple Bash, who have won all 10 league games to date in addition to their three 20/20 matches, two Lancashire Cup ties and a Ramsbottom Cup first round game against Blackburn Northern.

And while Baldwin is a major admirer of what is being achieved at Back Lane, he believes that the run must end some time.

“I would be very surprised if any team could go through a season with a 100 per cent record in all competitions,” said Baldwin.

“They are unbeaten in the league, the 20/20, the Lancashire Cup and the Ramsbottom Cup so far but I think their run has to end sometime.

“And I would love nothing more than for us to beat them tomorrow.

“They are a fine side but it does seem that most of their runs and wickets are coming from just a few players. We just have to stop them.

“We know what a tough game it will be and we will have to be at the very top of our form. We need to dig deep and hopefully cause a shock.

“But you never know in cup cricket - and I am sure the rest of the league will be rooting for us.”

Baxenden are at full strength for the tie but Cherry Tree have a few injury problems as their season, which started with so much promise, threatens to drift away.

“Things started to go wrong when Baxenden beat us in the league,” said Baldwin. “We have a few injury problems and since the Baxenden loss, we have lost form.

“We need to get that back - and hopefully the form will return tomorrow.

“The lads will need no encouragement to go out there and try to win the game and hopefully we can cause an upset.

“We have plenty of options in the bowling department and with a bit of luck, the batting will come to form as well.”

As well as the Preston Old Road cracker, there is a big Pendle derby at the Applegarth as Stephen Hipgrave’s Earby lock horns with their local rivals Barnoldswick for the third time in three days after Friday’s 20/20 clash and today’s Ribblesdale League shoot-out.

Read, who are trying to hang on to the coat-tails of Baxenden in the league, face a trip to Chatburn Road in the cup, knowing that Clitheroe’s dire league form will count for nothing tomorrow, while Padiham welcome a revitalised Oswaldtwistle Immanuel side to the Arbories in the final quarter-final.