CAISTOR Town will today still be on cloud nine after their narrow win over Alkborough in Sunday's George Marshall Trophy final.

But for Cleethorpes 3rds it was a weekend to forget as a narrow 10-run defeat to high-fliers Cherry Willingham saw them relegated out of division one.

Opener Pete Briggs made 56 and Mark Gowshall 38 in Caistor's 207 for nine in the Lincolnshire League's senior knockout competition, played at Grimsby Town's Augusta Street ground.

Man-of-the-match James Barker scored 74 and Lee Brocklebank 45 as Alkborough set about their reply. But they fell short, on 205 for nine.

Division one leaders Cherry Willingham were forced to work hard for their win at Cleethorpes 3rds.

The Meggies turned in a fine bowling performance to reduce the leaders to 122 for nine in 45 overs, in which Lee Coupland's 37 was the only innings of merit.

Stuart Harvey (four for 33) was the pick of the Meggies' bowlers, with skipper Paul Hewstone effecting four dismissals behind the timbers.

But in reply Cleethorpes' top four all failed to make double figures. Elliott Drinkell, with 32, helped spark a middle-order revival but the tail failed to wag sufficiently and the home side were dismissed for 112 in 39 overs.

With their different styles, Graham Priestley (three for seven) and Joe Dobson (three for 41) were the mainstays of the Cherry attack.

Cherry Willingham and Alford have now secured the top two spots – although the destination of the championship pennant has yet to be decided.

But promotion to the top-flight is not automatic; it depends on gaining sufficient marks in ground inspections to be carried out later this month.

Second-placed Alford's game at Holton-le-Clay was abandoned due to rain, when the promotion-chasers were three wickets down for 103, opener Andrew White having made 58 and Danny Portus taken two wickets.

Hykeham moved up from third from bottom in the league thanks to a 91-run home victory over Louth 2nds.

Hykeham's handy 234 for five featured 64 by Pete Bogg and 57 from Chris Hammond, as Owen Roberts took two for 31.

Opener Dave Clarke's 28 was the best effort for Louth, who were dismissed for 143, all-rounder Hammond grabbing six for 68 from 21.4 overs.

Broughton's slim title hopes depended on a home game with mid-table Scothern on Saturday.

They were skittled out for only 41, 17 of which came from the bat of Paul Reed in the middle order.

After tea, Paul Clark took two wickets for Broughton – but Scothern needed little more than 10 overs to secure victory.

While, third-placed Outcasts made hard work of beating second-from-bottom Nettleham 2nds.

In division two, Cleethorpes 4th couldn't stop Messingham 2nds taking maximum points – although the victors are still not yet quite assured of promotion, with one match still to play.

Second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds were involved in an abandoned fixture at Alkborough 2nds – Town making 161 (Dave White 64, Rich Kirman six for 37) and the villagers 99 for four.

Third-in-the-table Caistor 2nds posted 140 for seven (Kev Parker 50) and lowly Haxey 2nds were 34 for one when rain washed out proceedings, Haxey's Aaron Moody taking three for 39.

Market Rasen's promotion hopes took a jolt when they lost at fifth-placed Hartsholme 2nds, although Rasen do have a game in hand on leaders Messingham 2nds, second-placed Grimsby Town 2nds and third-ranked Caistor 2nds.

Nick Wilkinson's unbeaten 62 was the top effort in Hartsholme's 155 for seven, Gary Bierlein taking three for 62.

Rasen responded with 133 (Jon Stephenson 39), as Dave Smith grabbed a career-best seven for 29 in less than 123 overs.

Outcasts 2nds are relegated after only one season at this level, after their five-wicket defeat to Owmby.

That win – secured with just two balls to spare – keeps Owmby clear of danger and owed much to a fine knock of 83 from their experienced opener Rakesh Chandar-Nair.

It was not a particularly high-scoring encounter, Outcasts' 149 for five featuring 51 from Scott Buttrick and 39 by Graham Clark.

The only bowler in the match to manage more than a single victim was Outcasts' Jon Wroot, with three for 32.

In division three, after in some danger of relegation a few weeks ago Scunthorpe Town 2nds moved up to the dizzy heights of fifth placed with a nine-wicket win at Immingham Blossom Way, who are still not clear of the drop-zone.

Immingham made a disappointing 87 (Jamie Fountain 26), as Rory Franklin taking three for 13 and Nick Wright three for 18.

Dennis Parker took an early wicket for the home side, but that was as good as it got for them as Luke Blades (30 not out) and Ben Ibrahim (50 not out) saw their side home within 24 overs.

One place below Immingham in the table but also clear of danger at the moment, Cherry Willingham 2nds had to cancel their scheduled home game with Barton Town 2nds due to wet conditions underfoot – both sides taking five points.

Second-from-bottom Broughton 2nds had to play at Washingborough and failed to take a point, being bowled out for 83 on their way to an eight-wicket reverse.

At the top end of the table, already-promoted leaders Keelby could still be caught by Stamford Homes over the final couple of weeks of the season.

Keelby might have just about sewn up the title on Saturday, but for the rain. Having posted 180 for seven, helped by half-centuries from Andy Bagnall and Sanjay Chauhan, they had reduced their Grimsby rivals to 127 for seven when proceedings were abandoned.

Mick Hanson (five for 54) bowled well for Stamford Homes.

Hibaldstow, who are third, managed a five-wicket win over bottom side Holton-le-Clay 2nds – already relegated – whom they bowled out for 59, Mel Oades grabbing three for two.

Hibaldstow's ground is usually renowned for producing high scores, but of 17 batsmen who used it during this clash, Chris Nash's 18, for the home team, was the best effort.

In division four, the only Bank Holiday Monday clash saw highly-placed Caistor 3rds heavily beaten at Morton.

The Gainsborough side rattled up 257 for three, which was dominated by a superb, unbeaten 131 from Simon Turner.

Caistor then responded with 167 for six.

Brigg Town's good late season form continued with a 33-run home win over Hykeham 2nds on Saturday – but it came to late to save Brigg from finishing second-from-bottom.

After losing both openers cheaply, Town recovered with a good stand between Matthew Bell (50) and Nigel Beacock (20) before being bowled out for 124.

Matthew Bunn did the bulk of the damage, sending down 16.3 overs to return the praiseworthy figures of six for 40, Phil Baker supporting him well with three for 49 and keeper Andy Pilgrim enjoying three dismissals.

Hykeham's innings was the exact opposite to Brigg's – openers Steve Roe (15) and Lee Buick (30) sharing a half-century stand.

However, things fell away after that and they were dismissed for 91, Rich Lancaster taking four for 27, Phil Dewfall three for 34 and Bell two for 13 (removing both openers).

Now unable to overhaul Brigg, Scunthorpe Town 3rds must collect the wooden spoon for finishing bottom of the table.

Disappointingly, Town were unable to raise a team to travel to Market Rasen 2nds and had to forfeited the match.

That was also the case for leaders South Kelsey 2nds, who could not get together a team to take on Alford 2nds.

A deduction of five points, rather than adding to their impressive total for the season, was a setback for Kelsey with two games still to play.

Nothing but players' pride and averages was at stake when Morton scored 133 and dismissed Keelby 2nds for 107.

Opener Simon Turner hit 40 for the Gainsborough-based home team, as veteran Udi Sheik continued his fine late season form to take six for 38 in 16.2 overs.

Ashley Briggs (26) and Alan Travis (23 not out) made decent runs in the middle-order for Keelby, but the necessary support was lacking.