CHURCH marched into their first Worsley Cup final since 2002 as they coasted past angry Nelson at a sun soaked West End yesterday.

And now they will host Ramsbottom in the final at West End on August 7 after they beat Todmorden at Centre Vale.

Craig Fergusson’s men were full value for their win – but Nelson’s perceived sense of injustice over the dismissal of their professional Luke Woodcock left them fuming and led to skipper Tom Lord being spoken to by the umpires after running to launch a verbal tirade at Fergusson when the home skipper was out.

You could have sympathy for Nelson over Woodock’s departure as he was adjudged caught behind off Levi Wolfenden when any noise seemed to be made by bat hitting the ground rather than the ball.

But league umpires don’t have the benefit of the technology and Woodock was given out after a debate between the two officials, although Nelson were adamant Fergusson should have called the former Church pro back to the middle.

Realistically that is not going to happen for something that is anything but clear cut – and instead of trying to get even, Nelson just got mad.

Woodcock’s departure left them rocking on 9-2 but Neil Thompson (24) and David Crotty (37) batted well to get the innings back on track.

But the star of the show for the Seedhillites was Sean Lemon, who batted beautifully to make 56 before being last man out as Nelson reached 161 all out.

Mohammed Jamil bowled finely for 4-30 from 9.5 overs, while Andrew Bentley was also on song with 3-32.

That sort of target didn’t seem enough but when an injured Levi Wolfenden was knocked over by a rapid Richard Meade delivery it was 6-1.

Fergusson was looking in the groove but he was trapped leg before by Thompson with the score on 22 – and that’s when the atmosphere reached boiling point.

As Fergusson walked off, Lord sprinted after him to have a word – and in turn was called over by the umpires. It also turned a large part of the large crowd against him and when he put down a mighty tough chance off Nasser Hussain at short extra cover, the home fans loved it.

It was a big moment as Hussain was in the groove and when Lord came on the bowl the batsman launched his second delivery over the pavilion and out of the ground – and his fifth ball went the same way.

Adam Greenwood had gone in first wicket down and he batted well for 30 before falling leg before to the spin of Woodcock – but that brought pro Saeed Anwar to the middle and he was on song.

Hussain finished unbeaten on 76 and Anwar was 25 not out at the end as Church cantered home with more than 11 overs to spare.

Todmorden looked to be heading for the final after professional Qaiser Abbas made a quite wonderful 132 not out and they posted 218-7 – and when Rammy were dead and buried, needing 90 from the last nine overs.

But young Tom Parton (37 not out) and Rob Read (45 not out) were fantastic – and took Rammy home in breathtaking style.

Going into the final over they needed eight to win and after a four from the first ball it was plain sailing from there for last year’s beaten finalists and the 2009 winners.

Church v Nelson

Nelson innings
P Dibb c Bentley b Jamil 2
NS Thompson c Greenwood b Bentley 24
Woodcock c Tucker b Wolfenden 3
DA Crotty b Bentley 37
CJ Heap lbw b Bentley 4
SM Lemon b Jamil 56
K Nazir c Tucker b MJ Gilrane 10
TA Lord c Hussain b Jamil 3
R Bradley c PD Gilrane b Anwar 7
RA Meade st Tucker b Jamil 1
S Halstead not out 1
Extras 13
Total (10 wickets) 161.

Jamil 9.5 2 30 4, Wolfenden 6 1 24 1, Anwar 9 2 19 1, PD Gilrane 6 1 26 0, Bentley 10 1 32 3, MJ Gilrane 8 0 27 1.

Church innings
LBP Wolfenden b Meade 0
CM Fergusson lbw b Thompson 18
A Greenwood lbw b Woodcock 30
N Hussain not out 73
Anwar not out 25
Extras 16
Total (3 wickets) 162.

Halstead 8 2 22 0, Meade 10 2 34 1, Thompson 7.4 0 40 1, Woodcock 6 0 26 1, Nazir 5 1 16 0, Lord 2 0 17 0.

Church won by 7 wickets.

Todmorden v Ramsbottom

Todmorden innings
SD Newbitt c Stewart b Hakin 2
BD Sutcliffe c Fielding b Haslam 2
N Barker b Hakin 9
Abbas not out 132
A Sutcliffe c DM Bell b Fielding 37
SR Barker b Fielding 11
PD Senior run out 5
MJ Brierley c RE Read b Fielding 0
DL Brown not out 4
Extras 15
Total (7 wickets) 217.

Haslam 10 1 21 1, Hakin 10 2 24 2, Stewart 10 0 47 0, SEJ Read 10 0 55 0, Fielding 10 0 63 3.

Ramsbottom innings
KT Webb lbw b Senior 19
J Pilling c SR Barker b Morgan 15
Stewart lbw b A Sutcliffe 54
DM Bell b Morgan 26
AW Bell c BD Sutcliffe b A Sutcliffe 0
JM Fielding lbw b Morgan 5
RE Read not out 41
SEJ Read b SR Barker 10
T Parton not out 36
Extras 12
Total (7 wickets) 218.

SR Barker 10 0 59 1, Pearson 7 1 23 0, Morgan 10 2 30 3, Senior 3 0 14 1, Abbas 9.4 2 36 0, A Sutcliffe 10 0 48 2.

Ramsbottom won by 3 wickets.