An understrength first team were on the wrong end of defeat for the second game in a row after a narrow three wicket loss at home to Formby.

With a third place finish up for grabs, the two sides locked horns at the KJM Oval, with the Sey inserted in to bat by their opponents.

On a dewy wicket, openers Connor and Greg made a sluggish start to our innings, with the first boundary not coming until the seventh over.

The pair slowly forged a steady partnership of 40 to help us dominate the first ten overs before the introduction of off-spinner Archie Davies brought the demise of Connor.

Greg and new batter Wardy then took our score past fifty and put us in a seemingly strong position at 60 for 1 only for the visitors to seize the initiative.

Having kept things tight from his end early doors, Kiwi left-armer Ian Souness bagged the key scalp of Greg (32) via a calm catch from stand-in skipper George Burrows.

From then on, Souness proceeded to dismantle our top order with two wickets in three balls, before Davies struck from his end to leave us in further peril at 69 for 5.

After edging into the seventies, the Sey's batting problems heightened further after Souness clinched a well-deserved fifer with two wickets in successive balls. At this point, the 1s had fallen apart with the loss of six batters for just twelve runs!

Despite a difficult period, Wardy slowly anchored our innings for the next twelve overs, with comeback king Pottsy holding firm at his end. The pair forged a welcoming stand of 34 that included a four and six in successive balls by the latter!

However, a sixth wicket for Souness eventually brought the end of Pottsy's admirable knock of 22. Though Wardy battled his way into the thirties, the Sey eventually fell away and were all out for a below-par 119 with five of our batters given out LBW.

On the bowling front, Souness dominated for the visitors with magnificent figures of 7 for 37 off 21. 2 overs.

In reply, Formby made a decent start with over twenty runs scored in the first four overs before Ashy found our breakthrough with the scalp of Ryan Brown. The former Caldy seamer bowled effectively from his end and soon celebrated the wicket of Lucas Kennedy.

Despite a depleted bowling attack, the Sey fought well with the ball, as Greg made an instant impact by dismissing Sam Oldham with his first delivery of the day. Within a few overs, the visitors were in further disarray, as Evan claimed the wicket of George Scanlan before Greg trapped George Evans LBW to leave Formby at 55 for 5.

However, the visitors slowly recovered well through a crucial partnership of 28 between opener Tom Billington and new batter Davies. The former looked well-placed on 38 only to eventually perish to a sharp catch by Evan off Greg's bowling.

Davies continued to plug away at the crease with a number of singles, only to see his side lose their seventh wicket when Luke James was cleaned up by Ashy.

With over twenty runs still needed for victory, the visitors dug in for the next several overs, with Souness showing attacking intent with a couple of boundaries.

Formby eventually persevered as Kennedy (25 not out) and Souness (14 not out) led their side to a gritty three wicket win that lifts them above the Sey.

As things stand, the 1s are fifth in the Premier League table and will look to finish their campaign on a high when they travel to struggling Wirral rivals Birkenhead Park on the final day of the 2024 season.

1st XI POTM: Greg Beaver