But the gloom was lifted 24 hours later at the annual six a side tournament involving eight teams across all ages at the Stockport Road based club - a fundraising event played in a carnival atmosphere.

The winners were jovial Chris Page's team - and that had the veteran fast bowler all smiles.
He was the only player to take a wicket at Didsbury as the high riding first eleven were beaten by nine wickets.

The Timperley first eleven scored 185 all out with in form Joe Ashmore hitting 58 and Page notching a valuable 31 to at least make the total less embarrassing.

Chasing Didsbury took less than half the overs available to win with just the one wicket down.

Meanwhile the Timperley second team lost to their Didsbury equivalents by 94 runs.
Rob Matthews top scored with 54 with Felix Birtles and Dylan Parekah all solid but the team couldn't get anywhere near the visitors mammoth 298 for eight.

Amongst the wickets as usual was skipper Shahnawaz Khan with four for 65. He said: "There were positives and we were unlucky with some edges. We showed character but need to wake up a bit!"

Finally the club chairman Jurjees Hasan led the plaudits for his predecessor Bob Page - proud father of Chris - who has won a top ECB award for services to cricket.

The presentation for his "outstanding" contribution to the game during a long stint at Timperley, where latterly he has been particularly prominent promoting the women's section, will be made during Lancashire's match at Old Trafford this week.