PRESTATYN remain in a fight for their Liverpool and District Competition First Division lives after suffering a 52-run home loss to Northop Hall.

The Beach Close side were unable to claim a vital derby victory that would have all-but sealed their second-tier status for next summer, and they remain 26 points ahead of Fleetwood Hesketh with three games remaining.

David Harris’ men will look to take a giant leap to avoiding relegation this Saturday when they travel to Ainsdale, who currently sit in seventh position.

A strong performance in the field restricted Hall to 210-9 declared from 54 overs at the crease, with Kieron Tidswell taking the wickets of skipper Michael Barnes (0), Josh Andrady (2), Mohammed Haque (14) and James Hurlin on his way to superb figures of 4-70 from a 14-over spell.

Adam Tidswell claimed a pair of victims in the form of opener Alex Smith (23) and Jamie Hodgson (21) on his way to 2-43, and Isaac Sheridan took the prized wicket of top scorer Alistair Andrady for 65 to give his side a fighting chance of securing success.

The home side were unable to replicate this performance in the middle despite a number of batsmen making positive starts as they mustered 158 all out in reply.

Wicketkeeper-opener Robbie Rimmington hit three boundaries before was eventually dismissed by Hurlin seven short of his half century, and Gareth Leonard also threatened to make a big score until he played a Haque delivery into the hands of Smith after contributing 33.

Harris further assist his side’s chances with a 28 knock but was ousted by the impressive Haque at a critical stage, with only Sheil Sethi (15) making it into double-figures during the remainder of the batting order.

The outstanding Hurlin was the pick of the visiting bowlers, claiming 4-44 from a mammoth 17-over spell.