Winless Tranmere face tough Alder assignment

May 31 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IT will be a surprise if Alder fail to retain top place in the Bromborough Paints Merseyside and Southport Alliance today when they entertain luckless Tranmere Vics.

Alder moved into poll position on Monday as Birkenhead St Mary’s lost for the first time.

In-form all rounder Mohammed Masroor seems sure to pose problems for Tranmere who are finding life tough in the Division after promotion from the Merseyside Competition.

They remain winless to date and it is a similar story for Haydock who look to break the ice against a Parkfield Liscard side aiming to bounce back after a miserable Bank Holiday weekend.

Birkenhead face a local derby at Caldy and will need to produce a better all round display after a mauling by Norley Hall.

Caldy are on a high after two wins last weekend. Bowler Rich Battersby will expect to be amongst the wickets again today and it will be interesting to see whether Australian Anthony Sams can build on his fine unbeaten 143 on Monday.

Norley Hall and Sutton are doing well in the top half of the table and seem sure to have a say in the promotion issue in the weeks ahead.

Norley have Moorfield as visitors whilst Sutton go to Parkfield Liscard hoping for more wickets from Ray Foster who totalled ten during the holiday weekend.

Rainhill have also made good progress after a disappointing start to the campaign and will fancy their chance at home to Prescot & Odyssey. Burscough too should stay in contention at the expense of visiting Manweb.

Old Xaverians, Cheshire Lines and Port Sunlight are the clubs setting the pace in the Merseyside Competition and all look to have winning opportunities – Xavs at Goodlass, Cheshire at home to Mossley Hill and Sunlight in a local derby at Bromborough.

Runcorn look to end a disappointing spell in Division one of the Meller Braggins Cheshire League away to Malpas.

Fixtures: Merseyside and Southport Alliance: Alder v Tranmere Vics; Burscough v Manweb; Caldy v Birkenhead St Mary’s; Haydock v Parkfield Liscard; Norley Hall v Moorfield; Rainhill v Prescot & Odyssey; Sutton v Southport Trinity. Merseyside Competition: Aigburth v Hale; Bromborough v Port Sunlight; Cheshire Lines v Mossley Hill; Goodlass v Old Xaverians; Singlehurst v Maritime; Whitefield v St Mary’s College OB. Cheshire League Div.One: Malpas v Runcorn. Div.Two: Chester CO v Bowden Vale. Div.Three:- Castrol Superseal v Bunbury; Lindow v Parkonians; Wistaston Village v Wirral.