ASHTON-on-Mersey dropped further behind in the race for promotion as they fell frustratingly short in a draw against Heaton Mersey.

Choosing to bowl first on a green pitch, Ashton bowled with good discipline to restrict and ultimately dominate the Heaton Mersey batting.

Pace men Sam Timbs (4-47) and Isuru Perera (3-21) were always a threat and with the fielders holding their catches the home team struggled to a disappointing 143.

With Graeme Thomason in belligerent batting form, Ashton looked like odds-on favourites to grab a win.

But when Thomason went for a rapid 46 the rest of the batting allowed a torpor to overtake it, losing energy and tempo as the overs passed.

Having dug themselves into a difficult position wickets began to fall as Ashton tried to recover momentum, and despite a heroic effort by skipper Lee Brooks, the visitors finished two runs short of their target with nine wicket down. Hassan Rashid took the bowling honours with 4-64.

This will be a hugely disappointing result for the Ashton team as they threw away a winning position.

Ashton need a big few weeks to keep in the title hunt, beginning next week when Poynton are the visitors.

The second team lost their contest with Heaton Mersey at The Beets by four wickets.