EVERTON REACH THEIR GOAL

Luddington's first outing of the season in North Lindsey League Division Three saw them slip to a narrow defeat that in different circumstances might well have produced a different outcome but for a very late withdrawal that saw them travel with only 10 men.
It was the Isle side who batted first and they quickly lost Darren Clark, caught by Mills off Richard Chambers without a run on the board, which brought ex-Outcasts hit man Andy Lawson to the crease along with another ex-Proiryman Danny Taylor who batted superbly throughout. Lawson hit a quickfire 14 before being bowled by Chambers, then Glen Cruickshank grabbed two further wickets, those of Kristian Reed for six and Gareth Parkin for just a couple, leaving the visitors on 41 for 4. Arron Curry scored a dozen and was bowled by Johnson with the total on 70, but Taylor remained stoic and was joined by veteran Steve Proctor to take the score towards the three-figure mark. Taylor had made an excellent 41 when he was caught by Cruickshank, off Rehman, and despite some impressive bowling from Richard Chambers who finished with 4 for 14, Luddington made their way to 132 for 9, rueing the fact that the extra man might well have taken their target even further out of Everton's reach.
Everton's reply began stutteringly as Dan Brighton was caught by Kristian Reed off Matt Mellers for just two runs, then Mills followed as Mellers picked up his second wicket, bowling him for 12 as the home side slipped to 19 for 2. That soon became 21 for 3 when Leach was run out but then came a fightback when bowling hero Richard Chambers and opener Paxman added 47 valuable runs. Wicketkeeper Steve Proctor caught Chambers off Mellers when he had reached 34 and two further wickets fell in the 80s, leaving Everton still over 50 runs short of their target with six wickets down. The visiting bowlers were beginning to tire and before long the total had reached three figures then it swung back in Ludd's favour again when Mellers picked up his fifth and sixth wickets, but Paul Chambers showed great intelligence and know how as he and number 10 batsman Dobson produced experienced batting to guide Everton to victory with less than three overs remaining in a tense finish.
So Luddington were left to rue their lack of numbers, whilst Everton were able to celebrate their first victory of the season after a tough opener at Barton on May 2nd. Richard Chambers and his father Paul were the heroes for Everton, whilst Danny Taylor's batting and Matt Mellers bowling offered Luddington encouragement for their second match on Sunday when they entertain Upton cum Kexby on the Isle, Upton having gained a morale-boosting win at Misterton last Sunday.
It promises to be an entertaining encounter.