GRAPPENHALL’S late season slump continued with a defeat to lowly Didsbury at Broad Lane on Saturday, proving a third loss to relegation-threatened opponents in recent weeks.

The hosts sit fifth n the Cheshire County League’s top flight after Didsbury ran out seven-wicket winners.

Jamie Bye and Adam Roylance made their first-team debuts, but the latter was the first to leave with the score on 21.

Mike Sambell batted well for his 34 but Jimmy McCoy, 35, added some much need impetus.

Liam Parkinson, 47 not out, delivered some hefty blows and put on the biggest partnership (58) of the innings with Steve Southward, 17..

Jack Critchley waltzed in to wallop the final ball for a boundary, leaving Grappers on 204 for 9.

Didsbury’s openers put on a partnership of 106 before the first of two stumpings by Parkinson off the bowling of Southward.

The next came at 169, opener Phillip Critchley falling one short of a century as Southward and Parkinson struck again.

The hosts reached 201 before Southward took his and Grappenhall’s final wicket, courtesy of Bye’s smart catch.

Southward bowled one of his best spells of the season, taking 3 for 25 off 14, but he was unable to halt Didsbury easing over the line in the 53rd over.

On Saturday Grappenhall travel to second-placed Chester Boughton Hall, who are locked in a title fight with Neston after they returned to top spot. The Broad Lane side will have a big say in where the Premier League trophy ends up when they visit Neston seven days later.