FLIXTON captain Aiden Fetherston was thrilled to finally lift the Cross Cup with victory over Blackrod on Sunday.

In what was a repeat of the 2011 final, the Lawrence Road side avenged the defeat four years ago by lifting the trophy for the first time in the clubs history.

Blackrod scored 123 in the first innings and Flixton replied to the loss of only three wickets – led by man-of-the-match Luke Perry who hit a half-century.

And on clinching the worlds oldest cricket competition, Fetherston was full of praise for his side's performance.

“We bowled really well, especially Nathan McKiernan,” he told The Bolton News.

“To restrict them to 123 we would have taken that before the game, especially with the batting line up that we have.

“It wasn't all over because I think we only scored 77 against Adlington and 108 against Lostock recently.

“Full credit to Blackrod. Other teams may have given up at that point but they stuck at it.

And Fetherston heaped praise on his side's star Perry – who is also the league's second highest run scorer with over 750 runs this campaign.

“In a big game like this you can always rely on Luke. He is a big game player,” he added.

“When we lost the final in 2011 that was our biggest day in this league until we won the league last year. To win the league and the cup in the last two years has been amazing.

George Tipping top-scored with 27 for the Vicarage Road outfit and Jack Southworth (24), Zak Burton (19) and Joe Speak (13) also hit double figures.

Perry and McKiernan bowled three wickets apiece but a late partnership from Tony Tipping (15) and Daniel Robinson (nine) boosted the score to 123.

When Perry turned his hand to the bat he controlled the innings with opening partner Adrian Holmes (23) as they put on a 64-run opening stand.

Once the wicket of Holmes fell Asif Zakir (six) soon followed suit before Ashley Perry was run out.

Shay Parkinson then entered the crease to partner Perry – whose match-winning performance was epitomised by his final four which clinched the cup for Flixton.