WHITCHURCH’S cricket chairman admitted he was left with mixed emotions following his side’s pulsating tie with near-neighbours Wem in the Shropshire Premier League on Saturday.

In a rain-affected clash at Wem, Whitchurch fell one run short of their revised target of 139 with plenty of last-ball drama only adding to what had been a classic already, as Whitchurch reduced Wem to 111-8 before a late flurry saved them.

But Iain Marsh, who was full of praise for his rivals in the build-up, admitted had he been offered 15 of the 20 points available, he would have taken them and was delighted with how his Whitchurch side performed against the title favourites.

“It was a classic but it’s a game we should have won because we were the better side,” said Marsh.

“We threw it away because we needed four off the last nine, but then we needed two off the last ball and Wem missed out a run out while we were running two.

“But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the result but we know we should have beaten them.

“It was a great advert for the Shropshire Premier Division – there were loads of spectators at the game from all over the county, as their games were off.

“Everyone said how good a game it was, and to be honest, if you’d offered me 15 points at the start of the day on Saturday, then we’d have snapped your hand off.”

Marsh insisted there were more positives than points to take from the game.

“We gave a debut to Andy Jones, who has been away for three years,” he added. “He came to us about signing so we haven’t had to find him, which is a bonus.

“It was a game played in the right way and it was great to see both sides acknowledge that after the game. Also, massive credit to the Wem groundsmen for working so hard and getting a game on for us.”