IN the Superleague St Annes Ex-Servicemens Club played host to a tense and hard fought derby match between St Annes & Kirkham.

With a good crowd and electric atmosphere, this match was always going to be a close contest.

Kirkham were unbeaten before this match and St Annes with one win and one loss had to tame the visitors and succeeded.

Jon Fish, with two victories under his belt, could have given the home team the perfect start, but missed doubled cost him the game losing 3-0 with a (47.27) average, hitting a 180 in the game.

The following two games saw Bob Warham and Jim Scott, who were both without a win this season turn in sound winning performances, Bob 3-1 (63.89) and Jim 3-1 (68.14). Alan (Alfie) Dyer found himself against an on form opponent in Steve Smith and with eight missed darts at a double in the first leg, cost him the game, finally losing out 3-2 (69.54). Alec Butcher made his debut for St Annes after a long illness and was obviously without match practice, and missed double again cost him the game losing 3-0 (50.34) and making the half-time score 3-2 to the visitors.

St Annes needed to turn the result around, and with some good second half performances by Frazer Bagnall winning 3-2 (61.51) Malcolm Poole 3-2 (63.80), Tony Dyer 3-2 (61.76) and Jamie (Kryton) Clare 3-1 (58.11) they secured victory. With Steve Doran on last, hopes were of a 7-3 win for St Annes, but was nudged out in the closest game of the day losing his first game this season 3-1 (67.79).

With the two top teams in the third division both losing, only six points separate the top five teams, making for a tightly contested season and no team running away with the title. St Annes next match is away to third place Castleton on Sunday November 25, with the coach leaving St Annes Ex Servicemens club at 10.15am.

Results: St Annes 6 Kirkham 4; Burnley 7 Littleborough 3; Milnrow 2 Castleton 8; Lancaster 5 Clitheroe 5.