Fernando admits pressure has got to Egerton

9:57pm Thursday 28th August 2008

SAJITH Fernando says the pressure has got to Egerton.

The Blackburn Road side were red-hot favourites to lift the Bolton League title at the half-way stage having opened up a commanding lead over title rivals Walkden and Greenmount.

However Egerton have wobbled in recent weeks and now find themselves needing to beat Walkden tomorrow to have any chance of finishing top of the pile.

“Everything was going well, and then the pressure got to one or two people,” said Sri Lankan professional Fernando, who has recently signed a new deal to stay at the club next season. “Some players couldn’t handle it. We need more support in the middle order because myself and Stuart Hornby can’t do it all.

“The Walkden game is a big one and we know we have to win. We have not given up hope of still winning the league, we just need to win all of our games and see where it takes us.

“There are only 13 points in it at the moment, and if we beat Walkden and they lose one more game we are back in with a decent chance.”

Walkden know they are firmly in the driving seat if they beat Egerton, and their captain Mike Bennison is delighted with the way his side have peaked when it matters.

“We’ve got stronger as the season as gone on and it has been a real team effort,” said Bennison. “We have got real depth in the batting order.

“We have got six or seven batsmen who have scored runs at key times. We have been involved in some close games, and come through most of them.

“At the start of the season the target of the club is always to win one senior trophy but, personally, I always want to win the league because the best team always wins that.”