Their Wood Cup hopes finally ended at Crompton on Tuesday night in the much-delayed quarter-final.

With David Blake, Daniel Howley and Matt Thomson all unavailable, Walsden effectively had only seven wickets to fall as they chased a Crompton total of 199 - compiled over eight days!

The home side were finally dismissed the previous evening with Chris Dewhirst claiming 4 for 132 from 8.2 overs.

Walsden were 35 for one off 12 overs when bad light stopped play on Monday and, despite the missing players, the visitors were fairly confident when they turned up at Glebe Street on Tuesday.

Suddenly the sun came out and with James Rawlinson and Janaka Gunaratne in the middle the chance of a trip to serial cup winners Heywood seemed a possibility.

However, it was slow progress with both batsmen mindful that the loss of their wicket would put pressure on the few to follow.

So it turned out as Rawlinson fell for 40 and Gunaratne for 53 as Walsden were effectively all out with their score on 140 for 7.

So the focus now falls on the rearranged Twenty/20 semi-final at Unsworth tomorrow night (Friday) after the first attempt to stage the match was washed out last week.

Paul Marrow’s second team entertains Littleborough on Sunday in the semi-final of the Burton Cup.

If anything the rivalry of the two sides has been even greater at second team level over the past few seasons with Walsden holding sway in the league but ‘Boro having the best of the cup clashes.

Sparks will fly with the action due to start at 1.320pm.

Walsden continue to limp along in the league, Werneth’s 11-run victory at Scott Street on Sunday the latest in a long line of disappointing displays.

The Oldham side was bowled out for 171, overseas amateur Nathan Griffin their top scorer with 35 as Gunaratne claimed seven for 56.

A strong Walsden batting line-up would have fancied their chances of reaching their target, but Werneth paid man Kaushal Loku emulated his fellow Sri Lankan Gunaratne by taking seven for 56 as the home side were dismissed for 160.