LINDOW remain in the promotion race after becoming the first team this season to lower the sails of cruising leaders Barrow.

The Upcast Lane men are eight points adrift of second-placed Romiley in Cheshire County League Division Two ahead of Saturday’s trip to second-placed Tattenhall.

Lindow, in achieving their first league win in four outings, can thank Ryan O’Brien for his contributions.

He made two important breakthroughs with the ball as Barrow opened up with an under-par 142-8 and then fired a match-winning 71no with the bat.

Tim Young (2-43) showed good patience and proved how effective his medium-pace bowling can be.

Swing bowler Alex Matthews (3-48) then chewed away at the opposition before Simon Bolton (1-14) and O’Brien (2-9) got in on the act.

O’Brien and skipper Ben Tyler restricted Barrow at the end.

Lindow struggled in response with coach Liam Castellas (8) getting bounced out, being caught at short leg off the bowling of veteran Mal Barrow.

Despite Matthew Ramsden’s powerful 18 the game was nicely poised at 52-3.

From there both Brien and Jamie Peel (38no) played outstandingly well as they took Lindow past the target.

A Lindow seconds team missing six ‘regular’ players went down to title-chasing Heaton Mersey.

Rowan Day and impressive youngster Max Espley got to 40-0 from the first 10 overs.

The innings took a turn for the worse when Day fell victim to some skilful bowling and wickets then fell with a flourish.

At 60-7 Lindow were staring down the barrel but with 13-year-old Henry James, in only his second game for the seconds, batting stubbornly alongside Homy Masud (44no) Lindow dragged themselves to 131-9 in 50 overs.

In the reply, skipper Day took 4-27 as the home team showed some nerves but Heaton Mersey scored the winning run with seven wickets down in the 48th over.

Highlight of the innings was Henry James’ first wicket for the seconds during a six-over spell of controlled line-and-length bowling.

Sunday witnessed a vital clash at the top of the thirds league as Lindow, in first place, travelled to second in the table Sale.

On a pitch on which scoring runs was never going to be easy, Lindow, asked to bat first, struggled at the start with openers Gedrodge and Pete Venables falling cheaply.

The first wicket brought Adam Bull to the crease, and after a scratchy start, he soon started to show his class.

Playing some gorgeous sweeps and exquisite drives, his 58 was by far the main contributor to Lindow’s total of 131-7.

Defending an under-par total, Lindow came out to bowl fired up and determined to impose themselves on the Sale batsmen.

Rowan Day bowled straight and full and was rewarded with 6-22 from his 10 overs, and left arm spinner Graham Clinton bowled accurately and with fine variation for one wicket that was far less of a reward than he deserved.

Fielding well, epitomised by U15 Joe Day’s fine and James Venables’ superb diving catches, Sale’s hopes of victory were short-lived.

However, to their credit, they dug in and refused to buckle, and the last pair batted out nearly 15 overs to secure a draw.

However, Lindow’s points haul was far greater, and in the context of the race to the Championship, left the match the happier team.