Lancashire League: Stalwart Phil averts crisis (8 July 1997)

8 July

Lancashire League: Stalwart Phil averts crisis

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

IT'S men like Phil Mooney who give East Lancs a distinctive edge over a majority of the other teams in the EW Cartons Lancashire League.

And it's such strength in depth which will ensure East Lancs are around when the title is decided.

Mooney had a marvellous day in what turned out, eventually, to be a comfortable victory over Enfield at Alexandra Meadows.

Although he deservedly had his feet up when the end finally came, there was no doubt that his contribution was the match-winning feature.

A season's best bowling performance of 6-25, including the vital wicket of the ebullient Shane Lee, was followed by a solid 25 as he helped his club out of a crisis by taking an unfamiliar opening role.

East Lancs were deprived, for a variety of reasons, of four regulars - three of them who could have opened the innings.

"That's the first time I've opened in the 17 years I've been playing cricket," said Mooney, a real stalwart for East Lancs.

He had only a couple of games elsewhere last year, for family reasons, but is delighted to be back at his sporting home.

"I'm only just getting back into it again. It wasn't the same playing for someone else, you don't have the same commitment because I've played all my cricket here.

"It's nice to do well and I enjoyed getting the pro out. I thought he was going to go for me, so I sent him my slower one and it's very satisfying when it works like that."

In contrast to East Lancs, who always seem to produce someone to turn up trumps, Enfield's resources aren't as deep, especially as they were missing a couple of seniors including injured skipper Andrew Barker.

Their batting was clearly over-reliant on Lee, brilliantly caught at long off after scoring 60 out of 94 in the 35th over.

With plenty of time remaining, Enfield must have been disappointed as they crumbled to 126 all out in the final over, despite a couple of hefty straight sixes from Neil Holmes. Then, when their turn came to bowl, Enfield had Lee and the evergreen Bernard Reidy to open, but, before long, they had 15-year-old Sam Reidy and 17-year-old David Bracewell operating in tandem.

That's great for the future and neither youngster looked out of place. Indeed, Bernard's son Sam picked up his second professional victim of the weekend when his off spin removed Billy Stelling - first ball!

But they needed to bridge the gap between experienced campaigners and the promise of youth.

It was something of a surprise that East Lancs decided to field after winning the toss, but subsequent events justified the decision.

The introduction of Ian Haworth and, in particular, Mooney made the big difference.

Lee, who was brutal whenever East Lancs offered anything down the leg side, threatened several times to take control of the game.

He hit eight delightful boundaries in his innings of 60, which lasted 89 balls, before falling to Mooney with the aid of an outstanding boundary-edge catch by Phil Mercer, who held on to four chances in all with some excellent catching.

Neutrals were disappointed not to see a really big innings from the Aussie, whose style is easy on the eye. But East Lancs clearly sensed his dismissal at 94-5 had opened the door.

Mooney added: "The wicket was doing just enough and that made it easier for me." It certainly looked easy enough as he picked up a £38 collection from a gate of £241.

Earlier in the game, Bernard Reidy had confided that he felt a score of 150 could be a match-winner. He was probably right as 126 was just too low to defend, once Mooney and skipper Mark Lomas (42), as assured an amateur batsman as you will see in the league, shared a second-wicket stand of 70.

Lomas should really have reached 50 but went to one of three fine catches taken behind by Warren Eastham.

East Lancs always looked favourites, with Mercer contributing valuable runs and Andy Clague finishing the game in style to confirm their continuing title challenge.

But it was good to see Enfield not only include the diminutive Sam Reidy in the side but to be prepared to put him in the front line.

And he's a hot young prospect who doesn't duck when the bullets are flying.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)