CENTRAL Lancashire League (CLL) side Stand have returned to their roots after voting to re-join the Lancashire County League from next season.

Despite some opposition from within the club, Stand voted to sever their ties with the CLL after 12 years, battling it out with the likes of Radcliffe and Unsworth.

And, the move was rubber-stamped by clubs from within the Lancashire County League at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The Whitefield side played in the Lancashire County League for many years and club captain Paul Wilkinson said: "It was a difficult decision to make but I think it is the correct one.

"It's a league we know and will also help us financially."

Wilkinson explained: "To do well in the Central Lancashire League it can cost up to £9,000 on a professional once his wages and flights have been taken into consideration.

"I don't see the point of a club going bust to bring these guys in."

Stand finished bottom last season and currently prop up the rest of the CLL this year, despite their first win of the season coming at the weekend but they will still fulfill their 2004 CLL fixtures.

Lees Lancashire County League press officer Alan Michaelovitz said: "We welcome the addition of Stand Cricket Club to our competition.

"They have been working very hard in recent years to improve their ground and facilities and we wish them every success in our league from the start of the 2005 season."

The move spells a backward step for the CLL, as it currently has 15 teams and was aiming to add at least one more side to make it 16.

CLL honorary secretary Mr Alan Wright said: "We are sorry that Stand are leaving us because they are a very friendly club who always complied with everything expected of them.

"The clubs in the league wanted to have 16 teams in the league next season before they knew Stand were leaving, so bringing in another team will be on the agenda at our next league meeting (Friday, July, 2)."

Stand's defection drops the number down to 14, although Monton look set to join the CLL for the 2005 season, which means it still needs another club to get to the magical figure of 16.

It has taken eleven games in coming but Stand finally registered their first of the Central Lancashire League table in a nerve-wracking finish at Middleton.

And, skipper Wilkinson was understandably delighted with the win: "It was a tight win but we are very relieved.

"Going into the final over, we didn't think it would happen."

In a thrilling contest, Middleton needed six to win from the final six balls with two wickets remaining but paceman Eddie Shah stepped up to wrap up a one-run win.

The visitors batted first and were indebted to three main contributions from professional John Seedle (42), Dave Wright (23) and Gary Bond (23).

No other batsman reached double figures in the final total of 141; with Nigel Doyle destroying the middle order on his way to fine figures of 5-25 in under ten overs.

The Moonrakers got off to a solid start but, when both openers were ripped out by former Radcliffe seamer Shah, they looked up against it.

Solid, if unspectacular contributions right down the order edged the home side towards victory before Shah came to the fore.

Shah was ably assisted by Jack Ritchie (2-44) and paid man Seedle (3-36) as the victory celebrations started.