WELL on this occasion it was a boy not a man who strode forward to grab glory for Guiseley in the Birtwhistle Cup Final at Calverley on Sunday.

The game looked to be slipping away from Guiseley after a promising start when wickets tumbled and it was left to 13 years-old Chris Thompson to stride to the wicket with only his 14 year-old teammate Chris Wain to come as their side needed nine runs to win the cup.

It was a tense situation, one that had become tenser by the minute as the two youngsters sat on the sidelines full of optimism and as young boys do - sharing bags of sweets - as Ian Wolfenden and David Ross were stroking the ball about, getting excited as Alex Haddy produced a cameo of an innings and then becoming quieter by the minute as a

quick procerssion meant that they were next in line.

Young Thompson strode out to the wicket with nine wanted off three overs after Martin Knowles had fallen to Mayes off the last ball of the over.

Jeff Atkinson pushed a one off Shaun Ledger who had bowled superbly and then young Tommo - adrenalin pumping - connected and

ran two.

The youngster managed to forget the crowd for a moment as he was out in the middle doing what he loves best - facing the challenge of a bowler.

He concentrated on the task in hand and was grateful to scramble a lucky single which then left his side needing five runs off two overs.

Young Wain was shuffling in his seat as any slight mistake would pitch him into the fray.

Facing Emerson Mayes Thompson missed the first ball but made a sweet connection with the second and as the ball seemed to slow as it neared the long boundary it was willed over the line by the large Guiseley contingent and all the neutrals with Tommo's Dad - Guiseley first team player Steve - animatedly leading the cries for the ball to pick up speed and cross the line.

Cross the line it did to a huge roar.

One to win and young Tommo was not going to let the magic moment slip away . He confidently drove the ball back past Mayes to run the winning single which ended with a triumphant leap into the air.

He was mobbed as he came off the pitch and then the moment became too much for him and there were tears all round as the emotion of the moment spilled over. Even skipper Nick Fraser admitted to a tear or two when in his acceptance speech he said: 'We had a little hero in Chris Thompson who made us all cry.'

Follifoot had posted a score of 152-8 with opener Tim Holgate holding the innings together with a good knock of 59 before being bowled by Martin Knowles. Holgate had hit 6 fours in his 94 ball innings after he had lost fellow opener Peter Harrison for just one.

Paul Townsend joined Holgate and the pair built a steady foundation for Follifoot but with Ian Wolfenden, bowling a marathon stint for him, and Knowles taking wickets Follifoot never really got away to make the big score required to put the result beyond doubt.

Wolfenden finished with 4-50 and Knowles 3-65 but it was a shame that Fraser did not seem to have the confidence to give either of his youngsters a bowl - young Wain would feel particularly hard done by after picking up a hat-trick in the league the previous Saturday.

However, skippers are there to make decisions and he went with the experienced man in Wolfenden and he did not let his skipper down. As well as his wickets he picked up two catches and then played the innings which set Guiseley on the path to victory to pick up the Man-of-the-Match award.

Fraser said: 'The one change I was going to make was to bring on young Thommo for Wolfie but then Wolfie got Clarke lbw and there were just 14 overs left and I fancied Wolfie having a go at the new guy. There was not much in it for the spinners so unfortunately young Chris Wain did not get on.'

In their innings Guiseley soon lost Graham Wolfenden without scoring as he was lbw to Ledger. Fraser hung around with Ian Wolfenden for a while before he too became a victim of Ledger but this only brought the vastly experienced David Ross to the crease.

He and Wolfenden then set about the bowling to put Guiseley in the driving seat but just when it looked as if they alone might well carry Guiseley to victory Ross was caught on the boundary by Simon Clarke after having hit 5 fours in his 31.

Wolfenden continued to lead the way but Chris Cooper and Stewart Goodbold soon came and went and when Wolfenden finally succumbed to be caught by Paul Townsend off Graham Nash for 51 Guiisleey were still confident. Wolfenden had hit 8 fours in his 87 ball innings.

Alex Haddy and Martin Knowles kept the board ticking over with some excellent running and Haddy's cameo innings of 23 was ended when Simon Clarke caught him off the bowling of Emerson Mayes.

However, when Knowes followed Haddy next ball Guiseley were in trouble. But then came young Thompson and the game took another twist - one which Guiseley will remember for many years to come.

League President Denys Bull thanked the two teams for providing a great match and he thanked Calverley CC for their tremendous efforts in staging the final.

'We are delighted with everything they have done today. Roger Powell and his team have done a tremendous job on the square here at Calverley and the ladies and everyone else connected with the club has put on a marvellous show today and I thank them very much,' said Mr Bull.

He also thanked Michael Mitchell, a director of sponsors Waddington Chorleys PFB Ltd; the umpires Ian Emmott and Ian Smith and scorers Carol Whitaker (Guiseley) and Sarah Qyuick (Follifoot).

Follifoot.- Peter Harrison c I Wolfenden b Atkinson 1, Tim Holgate b Knowles 59, Paul Townsend c Fraser b Knowles 20, Mike Bailey b Wolfenden 2, Evan London not out 8, Simon Clarke lb Wolfenden 28, Mark Richards c Atkinson b Wolfenden 1, Emerson Mayes c G Wolfenden b I Wolfenden 11, Shaun Ledger c I Wolfenden b Knowles 0, David Batchelor not out 4; x 18; ttl. 152-8.

Did not bat: Graham Nash.

Bowling: M Knowles 23-6-65-3; J Atkinson 5-0-24-1; I Wolfenden 17-2-50-4.

Guiseley.- Nick Fraser c Clarke b Ledger 11, Graham Wolfenden lbw Ledger 0, Ian Wolfenden c Townsend b Nash 51, David Ross c Clarke b Richards 31, Chris Cooper lbw Ledger 7, Stewart Goodbold b Mayes 3, Alex Haddy c Clarke b Mayes 23, Martin Knowles b Mayes 7, Jeff Atkinson not out 0, Chris Thompson not out 8; x 12; ttl. 153-8.

Did not bat: Chris Wain.

Bowling: S Ledger 17-2-47-3; E Mayes 13.3-3-37-3; M Richards 8-0-47-1; G Nash 5-0-15-1.

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