Todmorden 170, Accrington 173-2
6th September 1981

Accrington 1st XI 1981 ©Stephen Blunt

Accrington ended the season with an 8 wicket win at Todmorden to finish the season in ninth place in the table with 47 points. Former Accrington professional Mohsin Khan top scored with 56 in Todmorden's 170 all out. Accrington professional David Stead struck the first blow by clean bowling opener Phil Morgan without scoring. Khan and Tony Gledhill (19) repaired the damage until the amateur was caught by Graham Beech off Neil Jones. John Brierley was run out for 16 and Khan was caught by Mark Aspin off Ian Birtwistle (4-37). Mick Hartley (32) was stumped by Paul Graham off Birtwistle who also had Alan Fiddling (4) caught by Stead and Andrew Harvey (18) caught by Geoff Hayhurst. Stuart Priestley was run out for 13 on his senior debut. Mick Donnelly (2-6) polished off the innings in the 28th over by trapping John Townend and then having Doug Walters caught by Jones both without scoring. Andrew Mitchell was unbeaten on 4. Needing 99 runs to equal Bryan Knowles' feat of scoring 1,000 runs in the season, Beech made 37 before being bowled by Hartley. Aspin went on to make an unbeaten 55, his maiden senior half century with Stead making 66 before falling to Mitchell. Trevor Hatch was also unbeaten on 12 when the points were secured in the 31st over. Scorecard

If you have any memories of 1981 please email Nigel Stockley