Leyland feeling upbeat about campaign despite title failure
Leyland coach David Makinson insists his team can feel positive about their season despite missing out on the title.
The men from Fox Lane travel to Longridge on the final day of the season, knowing a victory will see them finish in runners-up spot in the Northern Premier Cricket League Division One.
Considering the club only just finished above the relegation zone last year, this summer has seen a marked improvement.
However, there is a sense of what might have been amongst the squad, especially when they topped the table with only a month of the campaign to go.
However three defeats to derby rivals Chorley, Blackpool and eventual champions Netherfield last Saturday ruined any hope of them lifting the title.
The loss to Netherfield was particular disappointing as a victory would have set up a grandstand final day with the men from Parkside Road set to face arch rivals and reigning champions Kendal this weekend.
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“We got so close but then we had a bad run,” said Makinson.
“We lost three out of four games right at the important time which has cost us.
“We lost to Chorley, Blackpool and Netherfield – so a bad trot of results at a bad time.
“If we had have beaten Netherfield we might have still of had a chance of winning the league, especially with them playing Kendal in their last game.
“There’s not a lots of love lost between those two so that would have made it interesting.
"But we didn’t manage to beat them and there’s still a chance we might not finish second.
“We’re not guaranteed second because if we don’t beat Longridge and the teams below us win, we could end up fourth so we want to finish the season strongly.
“But I think we can say we’ve had a good season, especially after last year.
“I think if anybody would have said to us then that we will finish second if we win our last game, then I think we would have taken that.”
NL Div One: Chorley v Garstang, Longridge v Leyland.
NL Div Two: Euxton v Preston, Fulwood and Broughton v Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys v Penwortham, Whalley v Morecambe.
PS Champion-ship: Eccleston v Vernon Carus, Garstang v Heysham, Lancaster v Westgate.