CHRISTLETON travel to Oxton tomorrow hoping to continue the fantastic form which has seen them rack up four wins and two draws in their last six matches.

The run has given them an outside chance of taking the league title but skipper Jim Gillson said their aim was more modest.

'We're in the middle of a purple patch at the moment and we've recently averaged 19 points per game which is championship winning form,' he said. 'Our target now is to finish in the top three.'

Gillson is hopeful that his team will be too strong for the Merseysiders who are currently propping up the table.

'If we are to have realistic aspirations of finishing in the top five then we have to beat the likes of Oxton,' he said.

Christleton are without opening spin bowler Simon Ratcliffe due to work commitments and all rounder Alex Barr who has a sprained ankle.

Last Saturday Christleton managed a draw at home to an impressive Nantwich side. Gillson's men bowled first and the away side recorded 288 including a quickfire 80 from Australian Steve Paulsen.

In reply Christleton finished a frustrating eight runs short of the total. Simon Ratcliffe (89), Maroof Khan (60), and Rick Moore (84) were notable contributors.

'We restricted Nantwich to 288 when it could have been a huge total,' said Gillson. 'In the end we needed 14 runs off the last over and it proved too much.

'It was frustrating and afterwards it felt like a loss. Another eight runs would have resulted in us picking up another 10 points.'

OULTON PARK skipper Nathan Dumelow reckons their away match at Toft is a match they cannot afford to lose if his side are to regain their title.

Last season's champions currently lie in second place three points behind league leaders Hyde.

'At this stage in the season we cannot afford to lose any more matches,' said Dumelow. 'We will be looking to pick up 20 and 25 points in each match.'

Park welcome the return of opening bowlers Stewart Eaton and Robin Taylor for the match after two weeks away on holiday.

Park will also be buoyed following their dramatic last-ball win at home to Alderley Edge last weekend. The away side won the toss and chose to bat recording a total of 274 with Alderley's Sohail Rauf top scoring with 96. With the ball Chris Jones excelled for Park with figures of 5-50.

Despite the early second-innings loss of opener Chris Bassano for one, Dumelow's team rallied with Daniel Leech top scoring with 80. Ben Spendlove hit eight fours and four sixes on the way to scoring 78 and the skipper himself passed his half century recording 55.

And with just one ball remaining John Davies struck the winning runs to dramatically win the match for Park.

A reduced-overs game saw NESTON suffer a losing draw at home against Bramhall.

With 12 overs lost to rain, Bramhall took 17 points from the game and moved off the bottom of the table.

The visitors batted first and declared on 246-7, Mike Bolger top scoring with 59 while Chris Finnegan returned a yeoman 3-77.

Neston held out with their last pair at the crease at 180-9, Chris Hackett continuing his rich vein of form with 62, while Barney Cutbill took 4-44.