Upton travelled to the league’s bottom side, Ashton-on-Mersey, hoping to right the wrongs from last week’s disappointing defeat against Haslington. With summer holidays kicking in the skipper made 3 changes with Joe Green returning to the side, Phil McGowan making a miraculous return from his ACL tear, and Matt Ingram making his first UCC appearance since COVID.

On a scorching day, with the wicket looking conducive to runs, the skipper elected to have a bat and Upton made decent early progress with MO and Chris putting on 50 for the first wicket, before 2 quick wickets left the score 57-2. Lee joined Macca and they both set about taking on the AoM bowling attack as the total passed 100 and then 200, with both batsmen bringing up milestones along the way. Chris eventually departed for 122 off just 97 balls, Lee followed soon after for a run-a-ball 87. Joe Green entered the fray at 240-5 and quickly got to work in targeting the short boundaries, with some clean striking seeing him pass his 50 off just 28 balls. Some further punishment from Matty Brayne and Phil McGowan saw Upton finish on a 1st XI record total 356-7.

With a mammoth chase in front of them, AoM had to come out swinging and started positively but lost early wickets consistently, Matty Brayne picking up his first league wickets for the club to leave the home side 59-4 after 10. Ashton rebuilt with a solid partnership throughout the middle overs but the rate was always climbing and Dave Williams made the breakthrough with the score on 150 at just past halfway. This was followed by a flurry of wickets for not many runs to reduce the hosts to 165-8, Dave getting the broom out to pick up his first 5 wicket haul of the season, with thanks to some sharp glove work from Dan Owen. A late counter-attack from Marshall saw him clear the fence a number of times before falling for 88, some further boundaries from the no. 10, Green, got Ashton up to 250 before Philip took the last wicket and wrapped up the 2nd innings on 250, still over 100 runs short.

An improved all round performance from Upton ahead of a crucial game at home to league leaders Alvanley.