NEEDING a win to maintain their push for promotion, Farley were undone at home by a youthful St Cross Symondians side. 

St Cross were asked to bat first and despite losing a wicket in the third over to Geoff Ramsey, created a solid foundation from which to launch a late onslaught with wickets in hand at the end of their innings. 

Ramsey returned later to claim another wicket and Rory Cameron and Sam Ramsey bagged one each. 

The innings ended in unusual fashion with a hat-trick of run outs, which saw St Cross finish on 239-7. 

Farley’s reply began with debutant Tiernan Hick an early casualty in the run chase. 

Two quick wickets then consigned Farley to batting the overs and trying to salvage some points out of a game that they looked unlikely to win from that position. 

Skipper Mike Covill and Geoff Ramsey put on 48, before Covill was out for 27. 

Another quick wicket dispelled any thoughts of the win and with 22 overs still to bat some application was needed. 

Ramsey and Al Cosh got their heads down and had put on 99 when Cosh fell for 41 -  - after a sensible and well paced knock. 

Ramsey then watched another two wickets fall and was then out himself in the final over of the game for 85. 

The last pair kept out the final four balls of the game and Farley finished on 183-9. 

There was better news for Farley’s second team who enjoyed a much-needed win over North West Three strugglers Amport II. 

Captain Ian Swain was the architect of the win with a fine 69, disrupting the spinners with some well judged sweeps and cuts. 

After his century partnership with Pete Thompson, 44, Farley’s lower order were unable to make the most of the platform and subsided to 196 all out. 

However, tight opening spells from Luke Gibson and Gary Waller ensured Amport were always struggling and three quick wickets from Paul Roberts, 4-27, effectively ended the game as a contest. 

Amport’s youngsters battled watchfully to take their side up to the 100 mark, but Phil Owen removed the top scoring Birks and Waller returned to wrap up the victory by 93 runs.