But the chance to blow the league wide open ended dismally with according to visibly angry skipper Ed Galley some soft dismissals - and a lack of ability to build partnerships.

Galley said that only Joe Ashmore displayed proper quality and fight as Timperley crashed to a poor 132 all out in reply.

Galley said: "Chris Page in particular with three wickets together with Jonathan Fowler tore apart the Didsbury batting line up."

"Unfortunately our batters never got going, and early wickets left us on the back foot against arguably the league's strongest attack. A mixture of high quality bowling, and some soft dismissals accumulated to a serious missed opportunity for the us to put pressure on the league leaders. Joe Ashmore with a well made 50 continued his good form."

"It was a tough defeat to take, as we showed we have what it takes to compete with the best side in the league but unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line."

"We need to be better in those pressure moments."

The Timperley second team had a much needed triumph over Chester Boughton Hall with Tom Matthews slamming 64 and taking three catches.

That star showing was in contrast to his younger brother Jamie who missed out for the first team after seriously injuring his shoulder piling on the runs midweek.

Joe Clark and skipper Shahnawaz Khan both picked up four wickets in what Khan described as a "terrific team effort with the energy and commitment never dropping."

Clark's four for 29 in particular went a long way in ensuring the visitors failed in their chase by 14 runs.

Meanwhile the club's fund raising Bollywood Bash banked £2,000 during which chairman Jurjees Hasan told the 90 guests of the efforts earlier on Saturday of stalwart Jason Coad who effectively won the fourth team game against Appleton with an unbeaten 132 - a feat that catapults him into TCC folklore for scoring the most centuries in the club's near 150 year history.

And finally the all conquering Timperley Eagles under 13s team celebrated their latest victory at Ashton on Mersey with an impromptu rendition of the Row celebration made famous by fans and players of the Norway World Cup team!