ASTLEY and Tyldesley finally got their first win of the season – and in sensational style.

After losing every game so far, the Gin Pit men destroyed Golborne to lift themselves to within a point of second-bottom Standish.

Pro Joe Hawke was hugely influential, taking 5-27 to restrict Golborne to 101.

It was a modest target, but one the visitors might have settled for when they were in massive trouble on 8-4. Jordan O’Malley took 3-7 and Chris Benbow led the fight for Golborne with 38.

A&T, who have been edging closer to victory for the last few games as they got players back from injury, reached their winning total with six wickets and 20 overs to spare, Hawke scoring 31 and David Harrison 41 not out.

Another shock came at the other end where reigning champions Little Hulton were knocked off top spot after a humbling defeat to Elton.

Chasing 176-8, the Manchester Road men were all out for just 69, Alex Roughley ripping through the batting order with 6- 23 and Toby Bulcock taking 3-11.

Earlier, despite 5-88 for Shay Parkinson on a rare outing with the ball, Elton scored 176-8, John Ashworth hitting 77 and Mike Hall 30 to help them rise to fourth place, just 13 points behind new leaders Blackrod who continued their impressive season with victory at Spring View.

Paul Matthews was a thorn in Blackrod’s side with 51 not out in View’s 161-5, a total Blackrod passed with five wickets to spare, Zakir Elahi scoring 45 and Chris Sanderson 41.

Walshaw are third after their game at Edgworth was abandoned with the Bury side looking good on 49-1 (Darren Burger 22no) chasing 128-9 (Ally Dickson 30, Darron Foy 5-57, David Bowden 3-66).

Darcy Lever are handily placed in fifth, 15 points off the lead, after coasting to a seven-wicket win against Standish.

Sixteen-year-old Sam Crook continued his excellent first season in the first team in which he has scored around 400 runs already.

He hit 51 not out, Cameron Murray scored 46 and Ziggy Kulesza 29 not out as Darcy overcame the visitors’ 138-7 with 19 overs remaining. Richard Smith hit 43 for the losers with Grant Cordin taking 3-51.

A candidate for most exciting game of the day took place at Daisy Hill where the hosts overcame a horrendous start in their reply to win on the penultimate ball of the game.

Brett McMinn set the scene for a day of big-hitting with 86 off 81 balls as Atherton posted a daunting total of 194-5 off 33 overs.

Greg Greenhough chipped in with 36 and Amjid Khan began a good day for him with 3-71.

Daisy’s hopes looked to be over when they were on 44-6 nearly half way through their innings.

But then Khan got together with captain Mark Wood and they never looked back.

Wood scored 88 not out from 60 balls, including 10 sixes, and Khan hit an unbeaten 68 with three sixes.

Atherton’s Matt Stevenson bowled throughout and almost steered his side to victory taking 4-49 in 16.5 overs.

Adlington and Flixton produced another nail-biter which was decided by just one run.

Brenton Parchment produced a professional’s performance to keep Flixton’s title hopes alive as they just about saw off the hosts’ brave challenge.

Flixton’s modest total of 114 included a half century by Parchment who then took 5-48 and brilliantly caught Ben King when Adlington were clawing their way back into serious contention.

Adlington’s Jon Howells took 3- 25 and pro Majid Majeed 3-39 as Flixton’s next highest scorer was Tony Kelly with 12.

Adlington made hard work of their reply as they reached 52-6 before David Walmsley (28no) and King (26) began to rescue matters.

The winning target was reduced to 110 and Adlington were just two off it when they lost their last man.