Here was a match the 4th XI could (and perhaps should) have won.  Formby chose to bat first but Shaun Hornby got rid of both openers with 31 scored, after which a mini collapse saw half the home wickets lost for 36.  Bootle, despite a fine effort by Danny of 4-48, failed to press home their advantage and allowed their opponents lower order to add 106 runs - number 10 Andrew Kent hitting 56 - and Formby reached 142 all out in 39.1 overs.

The Bootle innings began every bit as inauspiciously as that of Formby with the board showing 33-5 after 14 overs.  Danny Clifford (23), captain Tony Molloy (22) and Ian McKenna (20) tried to effect a recovery but no fewer than nine of our batsmen were clean bowled in the face of an onslaught led by George Hatton (4-14) and Lewis Burt (4-22) and we were dismissed for 110 after 38 overs to lose by 32 runs.

First success of the season for the Fourths and a nice day out in North Wales into the bargain!  The home side made steady if not rapid progress but once John Brooks and Danny Clifford went into action for Bootle the wickets soon began to fall and Prestatyn were all out in the 48th over, leaving us 40 in return.

Our innings was dominated by opener James Banks, who made an accomplished 70 not out and stayed immovable at one end until the match was won.  He received valuable assistance from Shaun Hornby (27) and Ian McKenna (15), sharing a 4th wicket stand of 49 with the latter which took us to within touching distance of victory.  This was secured in the 16th over of the last 20.

Bootle were much the better side on the day, though it must be mentioned that the home side did themselves no favours by turning up with nine men.  Our top three of Jordan Willis, Josh Brady and James Banks all made useful runs to take us to 94-2 at which point three wickets fell cheaply.  A good stand of 55 between Tony Molloy and Shaun Hornby put us back in control, however, and our 172 in forty-three overs was a satisfactory total.

After the loss of opener Andy Davies for a duck, Rob Gamble and Kyle Marshall raised 57 for the 2nd wicket and Marshall later added 46 with John Rigby for the 5th.  At 113-5 Ainsdale were still theoretically in with a chance, but by now they had only three batsmen left and these mustered just 2 runs as the home team were all out for 115.  Skipper Tony nominated Danny Clifford as the Man of the Match for his excellent 6-29 off 8.4 overs.

On a sunny but blustery afternoon at Wadham Road the Fourths lost Jordan Willis early on but the total built steadily with three particularly good partnerships for the 5th, 6th and 7th wickets featuring Danny Clifford, Tom Meskell and Tony Molloy (20).  Danny took 91 minutes over his 78 and Bootle posted a more than healthy 224-7 made in 43 overs.

Aldre had 40 in return but when Tom Watson captured the first 4 wickets at a personal cost of 16 runs it looked as though an early finish was in prospect.  Decent efforts from John Scott and Stephen Longrigg at least restored a modicum of respectability to the Alder innings but the Bootle bowlers were in no mood to dispense favours and wrapped up the match in the 30th over.

Fourth win in a row for the Development XI who were given a fine start by openers, James Banks and Connor Clarke, with 79 inside 15 overs before they were separated.  The partnership was interrupted by a rain stoppage which forced the players from the field for 97 minutes, after which Bootle sought to press on towards a declaration.  Wickets were inevitably lost in such circumstances and we were all out for 161 after 32 overs leaving the opposition 37 in return.

The Hightown innings began disastrously when 9 without loss became 9-4 in the space of twenty balls as Gary Newsham and James Watson started to wreak havoc.  Paul Welden tried to stem the tide but he was the only home batsman to reach double figures and Hightown were dismissed for 45 in the 19th over.

The Development XI almost contemptuously swept aside Sefton Park VI at Croxteth Drive to maintain their high position in the league table.  Bootle elected to field on winning the toss and Chris King struck the first blow by having Scott Isaac caught behind for 1.  Tom Meskell then weighed in with three consecutive wickets (three of them clean bowled) so that half the home side were out for just 55.  Things got no better for Sefton as Jonathan Smith and Tom Meskell cleaned up the lower order with little fuss and the innings ended at 72 all out.  Opener Andrew Battersby was the only home batsman to reach double figures and Tom ended with the fine analysis of 7-3-17-4.

Mark Chappell trapped Connor Clarke lbw without scoring, but James Banks and Josh Brady put on 54 for the 2nd wicket without hanging around.  On the departure of Josh, Nathan Cooke joined James to take Bootle safely to the finish line as we won by 8 wickets in the sixteenth over.