Victory at Bill Quay today would put Esh Winning within touching distance of the Durham Cricket League championship.

The runaway leaders enjoy a 67-point lead over second-placed Dawdon, and even though Mainsforth, in third, are still in a position to challenge as they have a game in hand, it would take a remarkable sequence of results in Esh’s final four games for them to throw away such a massive advantage.

Quay will present tough opposition, though, as they are battling hard to keep their heads above the relegation waters despite having lost on just four occasions in their 17 games.

They lie third bottom, 30 points clear of Hylton, although their rivals will be expected to go for a maximum haul as they take on already relegated Boldon CA.

The home team are boosted by the return of Mickey Orridge as he rotates work commitments with Dave Newstead again, while Esh have to reckon without Paul Chivers, with their 12-man first team squad system once again able to absorb the absence of one player without undue concern.

Mainsforth represent Esh’s only realistic challengers. 74 points is a formidable deficit to make up, but they will cling to the dream that 30 points from the game in hand will put a different complexion on matters, and with the two teams set to meet in a fortnight’s time there is the opportunity of further significant gains.

But their first hurdle is not an easy one. They go to Bunker Hill today where Philadelphia await.

When the sides met back in June the game ended in stalemate on a slow scoring afternoon, and with Phili only having lost twice at home this summer there is plenty of work for the Mains men to do, particularly as Gary Cummings and Martin Lower are still on holiday. Ryan Dawson, Curtis Bihari and John Sweeney all return.

Shotley Bridge have one goal now in the NTSL – win all five of their remaining league games as anything less will spell the end of their title dreams.

The run-in begins today at Alnmouth where the home team are missing Russell Hughes as well as Nick Denton who is sidelined by a back injury, however they welcome Sean Hutchinson back to action after a lengthy injury lay-off, while Ian Clough also returns. Bridge are waiting on news about Ryan Pringle’s availability, but are otherwise unchanged.