WINSFORD'S promotion push stalled slightly on Saturday, when an uncharacteristically sloppy fielding performance allowed Ashley to post a challenging total.

The team from Knights Grange held on for a draw after at one stage threatening to come close to their target, claiming four valuable batting points.

Barry Crellin's men stay third in the table.

His side started brightly after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, with Mike Clarke and Mark Dean making early inroads into the Ashley top order to leave them in trouble at 36-3.

Winsford could not apply added pressure and allowed the home team to recover, led brilliantly by Liam O'Doherty (91no).

Crellin will be disappointed that no fewer than a dozen catches and stumpings were missed, most of them relatively simple by his players' normally high standards.

Dean (1-25) was again the pick of the bowlers as he combined economy with accuracy.

Ant Ollier and Jonathan Phillips (21) got their side's reply off to a sound start, but after Phillips and Martin Barrett were removed in quick succession they were always on the back foot.

Winsford attempted to rebuild as in form Clarke joined Crellin at the crease, but he soon fell for 19 as Winsford reached 95-4.

Crellin (43), Colin Dean and Smith were then out in rapid succession as the visitors crumbled to 107-7, before Chris Webb and Chris Brandon steadied the innings to bat out for a draw.

Winsford returned home with six points, leaving them 20 points adrift of Ashton-on-Mersey, whom they welcome to Knights Grange at the weekend.