THE Oilmen suffered cup final heartache in their Shammah Nicholls First XI Knockout final at Audlem on Sunday as they were edged out by neighbours Chester CO.

Castrol needed just 12 runs from the last three overs but by the time of the final delivery, they still required a match-winning boundary which they were unable to get.

Skipper Ian Silcock won the toss, put CCO into bat and Castrol got off to a good start as A Collard (4) was caught by Darren Green off Damian Walters (1-32).

A Hattersley (51) and I Barlow (46) did the damage with impressive knocks before being bowled by MoM Mike Garvey (4-25) and caught by Martin Flanagan off Garvey respectively.

Garvey also trapped J Gilbody (9) lbw while Silcock caught S Johnson (4) off his bowling, but J Talliano made 25 before being bowled by M Flanagan (1-49).

Former Castrol player Mike Caulfield posted 9no alongside A Barlow (2no) as County Officers closed on 181-6.

In reply, Martin Flanagan (22) and brother Steven (14) opened the Castrol innings but were caught by Gilbody off M Clarke (2-27) and Caulfield off A Barlow (1-27) respectively.

Garvey (51) put the Oilmen in the driving seat with a 125-run partnership with Green (74) before being caught by Johnson off Gilbody (2-23).

Green even hit Wynn for 24 in a single over, which included a brace of sixes and a hat-trick of fours, before eventually being trapped lbw by Johnson (1-17).

Others were less fortunate as King was caught by Hattersley for a duck off Clarke, Andy Walters was run out without troubling the scorers and Damian Walters made just two before Barlow caught him off Gilbody.

Castrol's seemingly easy 12-run target with three overs left was whittled down to four off the last ball and Mark Evans (5no) was unable to hit the boundary for victory.

* Castrol picked up a much-needed league win over Aston on Saturday.

Their opponents won the toss but were bowled out for 190, with Damian Walters taking an impressive 6-45.

The Oilmen knocked off the target, replying with 191-6 with Steve Flanagan topscoring on 72, while his brother, Martin, bagged 42.

Castrol took 20 points and Aston 13.