DESPITE a disappointing display at Aston on Saturday, Ellesmere Port survived a nervous last-wicket stand to snatch a draw and maintain their unbeaten record.
Captain Phil Ashton said: 'We weren't happy with how we played but Aston must have been more gutted than us at the end by failing to win. We're playing a bit more candidly this season.
'We could have slogged our guts out trying to get one extra batting point but we've stopped Aston from getting 10 more.'
Port lost the toss and were put into the field. Aston started brightly and were 81-0 before Sayers (2-44) trapped D Wright lbw.
Daniels (3-56) bowled G Davies (11) while Sayers disposed of R Pennock (9).
A Leese (35) proved tricky before falling to Daniels, but Forrester (7) fell victim to the same man.
R Bedson (65no) was dropped several times, which could have proved costly, and the hosts completed their allotted 48 overs on 183-5.
In reply, Brimble (7) was trapped lbw by Leese (2-20) while Ashton (17) was bowled by Goodwin (5-25).
A week after hitting 61, Cheese-borough fell for a duck, caught by Bedson off Leese, while Goodwin bowled Roberts (10), Dom Green (16) and Sayers (0). Things looked ominous for Port but Isaacs helped save the day by making 43, a knock that included nine boundaries, before being bowled by Gunn (1-3).
Stu Daniels (7) was caught by Peacock off Newton (1-7) while Goodwin bowled Craig Rawlinson (1). With just one wicket remaining, Port seemed destined for defeat but Daniels (2no) and Betteridge (5no), two men better known for their bowling prowess, heroically survived the last four overs to scrape a draw, finishing on 108-9.
Aston 15pts, Ellesmere Port 4.
