HASLINGDEN will enter the final day of the Musbury Fabrics Lancashire League season five points clear at the top following yesterday's victory over BURNLEY.

Paul Blackledge will lead his side into their home game with Accrington knowing a win will be enough to secure their first title since 1997.

But they might not have it all their own way if their opponents put up a similar battle to the one bottom side Burnley did at Turf Moor.

Chasing 161 for victory, Haslingden were struggling on 90-4, but it was Blackledge who came in with a captain's innings of 26 not out to steer them home to 163-6.

Mike Ingham hit 33, Steve Dearden 25 , with John Simpson and Lewis McIntosh each making 23 in a series of vital contributions.

The highest score of the match came from Jonathan Clare, whose 64 helped rescue Burnley form 42-4 at one stage.

But sub pro Pasan Wanasinghe took 6-47 and Dearden 3-51 as Burnley posted 160.

CHURCH are the side lurking behind Haslingden ready to pounce, as they prepare to host Rawtenstall this weekend.

Ruvin Peiris passed the club's batting record with117 in their vicotry over LOWERHOUSE as he dominate dthe home side's innings of 231-9.

The Sri lankan pro smahsed 14 fours and three sixes and he had solid support from Adam Greenwood (27), Mark Aspin (20) and Alec Holt (19).

Milestones continued for Pieris as he took 4-64 to pass the half century of wickets for the seaosn as Lowerhouse feel short on 209-9.

Peter Mawdsley scored 63 with three fours and three sixes and Joe Beneduce added 29.

Another pro in hot form to keep his side on the title track was Murali Kartik of RAMSBOTTOM, who took 7-47 as ACCRINGTON collapsed to 124 all out at Acre Bottom.

Ramsbottom then lost just two wickets as the Indian one-day international struck nine fours and a six in his 72, his side losing just two wickets on their way to victory.

The Rams go to Lowerhouse on the final day nine points behind Haslingden and four adrift of Church, so will need some big favours if they are to mount a late championship challenge.

Qasim Ali reached 500 runs and 50 wickets as COLNE crushed TODMORDEN at the Horsfield., falling oe short of a century in his side's 248-8. Fellow opening batsman Matt Wilson added 70.

With the ball, Ali then took 4-55 and sub pro Pierre Joubert 3-40 as Todmorden were dismissed for 139. Por Gyan Pandey showed most resistance but he could only manage 39.

NELSON pro Cameron Cuffy hit the penultimate ball of the match for six to secure vicotry against East Lancs.

Chasing 200 for victory, they had to recover from 134-5 but Joe Scuderi (38) and Paul Garaghty (36) got them back on track before Cuffy's late 58 from just 42 balls. He hit six fours and four sixes.

In the East Lancs innings, David Pearson made 56, Mark Lomas's 52 was from 88 balls, with three fours and two sixes.

Elsewhere Richard Wood top scored with 95 for RAWTENSTALL as they won an exciting game with RISHTON by noine runs.

Andrew Spencer and sub professional Kabir Kahn took ofur wickets each as BACUP overcame ENFIELD.