Cricket: Armstrong content as Skem adjust to life at top

May 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

SKELMERSDALE’S first seven games in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition have been rather like a debutante’s introduction to polite London society in the 1950s: full of terribly enjoyable occasions but a little spoilt by the possibility of a nervous collapse.

However, any fears that skipper Phil Armstrong might have harboured that his players would be overawed by playing at venues like Aigburth have been banished. Wins against Wigan and Highfield have been pretty much balanced by three defeats, and the captain said: “We’re not out of our depth. The games we won weren’t snatched affairs, we played a lot of the cricket in them.”

Such positive tactics have resulted in Skelmersdale going into their weekend clashes against Wavertree and Orrell Red Triangle occupying a modest 11th in the First Division but only 33 points adrift of leaders Northop Hall.

Nonetheless, the side from the beautifully-appointed Scott Rees Park, have yet to win a game; indeed, their two worst results came when they blew excellent opportunities batting second.

Well-placed on 120 for 5 chasing 165 to beat Northop Hall, Skem lost their last five wickets for 15 runs; even more galling was the experience of collapsing from 67 for two to 87 all out when needing just 98 to defeat Sefton Park.

Such disappointments have had to be filed under “valuable experience” as Armstrong’s side adapt to a new league, and the former Ormskirk all-rounder has been delighted by the way in which many of his players have adapted to the Liverpool Competition.

“Barry Leadbetter’s come out of the seconds and he’s 27, but looks 47,” he said. “However, he’s had a couple of good knocks and looks well-settled. And of course, Andy Molyneux’s century in the draw at Liverpool last week was a special performance, but then I think there’s bit of the Lord’s effect at Aigburth in that players raise their game when they play there.

“Our pro, Hemal Watekar, pretty much won us the game against Highfield getting a ton and taking seven wickets.

“But I don’t think it did us any harm that he hardly featured against Wigan.”

Contentment, indeed, seems to be the theme at Skelmersdale. “The umpiring’s a bit more consistent in the First Division and we’re really enjoying the good facilities and the nice grounds,” said Armstrong.