ST JOHNSTON did what they had to on the final day of the season with a win over Eglinton – but it wasn’t enough to stop the Donegal club from being relegated back to the Championship.
In their first season back in the top flight of the North-West League, the Saints have shown fine promise and have posted wins over Bready, Ardmore and now Eglinton.
Ultimately, though, they just missed out on survival and their limitations with the bat will be noted as their big reason for dropping a tier when they reflect on what has been quite an encouraging campaign.
Michael Rankin spent a large swathe of the season injured and his recent return showed just what Ian Macbeth’s side had been missing.
On Saturday at the Railway Road, the tension was palpable.
St Johnston took to the crease first and reached 155 for the fall of nine wickets in their 40 overs.
Veteran Alan Macbeth posted 26 with Jassi Wallia and captain Ian Macbeth (pictured above) each hitting 23 and David Lapsley clipped 21.
With the ball, Eglinton’s Andy Millar, Richard Wylie, Ross Allen and Stephen McCloskey each claimed two St Johnston wickets.
Stuart Thompson managed 47 as Eglinton threatened to compound their misery, but Khushpal Singh took 4 wickets for the loss of just 18 runs in a fine stanza with the ball.
Captain Macbeth had 2-39 when bowling with Lapsley 2-28 as St Johnston recorded a 28-run win.
Just across the Foyle in Magheramason, Bready defeated Strabane by 60 runs although St Johnston’s margin wouldn’t have been enough even if Bready had lost.
Bready will face Fox Lodge in a play-off with St Johnston at least packing their bags on the back of a winning note after what will have been a steep but nevertheless useful learning curve of a summer.
