PRESTATYN opened their Liverpool and District Cricket League Division One campaign with a 109-run home loss to Southport and Birkdale.

Gareth Boughey’s men were unable to capitalise on a strong start in the field and just had four points to show for their efforts on the opening day, and they travel to Birkenhead Park on Saturday looking to finally get off the mark.

The away side made an impressive start with the bat thanks to the opening partnership of Bradley Yates and Isaac Lea, who put on 70 for the first wicket before the former was clean bowled by Peter Cassidy on 43.

Boughey removed the dangerous Adam Phillips for just nine, while Lea was superbly run out by Ryan Westwell eight shy of his half century.

The outstanding Casssidy kept his side in the game thanks to a wonderful spell, which saw him dispose of Harry May (37), Alex Trimboli (17), Angus Gailey (0) and Chris Cunningham (0) on his way to eye-catching figures of 5-58 from a mammoth 23 overs.

Westwell also got in on the act to trap Charlie Byrne lbw on seven as the visitors declared on 174-8 from 54 overs at the crease.

The home run chase began moderately with knocks of 25 and 13 from Boughey and Westwell, but a middle order collapse saw Daniel Williams, Cassidy, David Harris and Kieron New all failing to contribute a single run between them.

This was a blow that the hosts failed to recover from, and wicketkeeper Scott Williams was also out cheaply when he was caught off an Andrew Warhurst delivery on one, who ended his sensational spell with figures of 6-14 from just eight overs.

Andrew Harris and Adam Tidswell both made nine runs apiece, but it was not good enough to get them to their required total as they fell to 65 all out.