Cannock refuse to give up on title chase

Defeat at Beacon last weekend left them 37 points adrift of top spot in the Premier Division with just nine games to play.

But Fleet, whose side host Swindon this Saturday, thinks all is not lost.

"It is going to be tough but it is still do-able," he said. "Beacon have a good lead at present but still have to play some tough fixtures.

"We have to make sure if they do slip up we are in position to take advantage."

The loss at Beacon was almost overshadowed by Cannock's South African overseas star Wes Marshall hitting six sixes in an over.

As incredible as the achievement was, Fleet admits he was not exactly full of wonderment when it was taking place.

"At that stage of the game, just eight overs in, I would have seriously lost my rag had he got out!" said the skipper.

"It was a superb feat but frustratingly we did not play well enough as a team to win the game."

Cannock are third, one point behind Lichfield, who host in-form Milford Hall this Saturday.

Tom Stone's side were limited to a winning draw against Springvale last weekend despite racking up 293-5 in 50 overs, thanks to Stuart Fielding's 91 from 88 balls.

The visitors proved stubborn in reply, Eral Anderson top scoring with an unbeaten 65 as they finished on 203-7 and picked up seven welcome points.

Captain Matt Tonks thinks the next four games could be defining for Beacon's pursuit of the Premier Division title.

The weekend's victory over Cannock saw Tonks' side open up a 36-point advantage at the top of the table, almost the equivalent of a two-game lead with just nine to play.

Despite his side having been out in front from the gun this season, Tonks has always been careful to urge caution and believes there are still 'four or five' teams who could claim the title.

But he admits they can take major strides towards their goal in the coming weeks.

Beacon travel to lowly Aldridge on Saturday before consecutive games against Penn, Lichfield and Milford Hall.

And Tonks said: "It's a big period. If we can get positive results in these next four games we will put ourselves in an even stronger position.

"At the moment, with the way the bonus points work, we have close to a two-game lead. But at the same time, if we were to lose three of the next four, it would give our rivals the chance to close up."

While Aldridge would appear, on paper at least, the easiest of Beacon's next four fixtures, the hosts are desperate for a positive result to avoid being cut adrift in the bottom two.

They will also be aiming to bounce back from last weekend's agonising losing draw at Whittington, where they were just two runs away from claiming victory. Replying to the hosts 284-6, Aldridge finished on 283-9.

Meanwhile, Wednesbury captain Carl Baker is targeting victory against Penkridge this Saturday to spark a survival push.

Baker's side are rock bottom of the Premier Division and the skipper admits they simply haven't been good enough this year.

But he is optimistic they can turn their fortunes around before it's too late and hopes this game can be a starting point.

Baker said: "We are confident we can do well again and bowl them out. It only takes one game to click and hopefully it's this game.

"Abdul Salom and Zafram Ali have been our stand-out players. Ali used to play for Worcester's second team and in the last four games he's been a massive difference with the ball."

Wednesbury lost by seven wickets to Swindon in their last game and Baker putting it down as a missed opportunity.

He added: "If we took our chances early on it might have been a different game. That's the message I'll be telling the players."

Batting talisman Abdul Salom was four shy of a century, hitting an impressive 96 with 16 fours and two sixes, while Baker himself made 44.

But having amassed 271, Wednesbury's bowling let them down as Swindon cantered to the target with more than 10n overs to spare thanks to centuries from opening pair Waqar Ahmed and Dan Boughan.

Fourth placed Hammerwich will, meanwhile, aim to bounce back from a surprise 61-run defeat to Penkridge when they face Springvale.