MANY people probably had Marsden down as Premier League ‘fall guys’ this term – even before a ball was bowled!

But an opening day win over League champions Scholes (on their own ground) and a battling performance against a vastly-strengthened Hoylandswaine last week, served notice that skipper Matt Butters and his Hemplow boys are not going to lie down for anyone.

Indeed, had they batted for more than three-quarters of their overs a week ago, then Hoylandswaine might easily have gone the same way that Scholes did the previous week.

“Once again we didn’t get enough runs on the board, which was our biggest problem for most of last season,” admitted Butters, whose side gained promotion from the Cedar Court Conference via the play-off route after winning the Conference final against Kexborough.

“Last week we scored 153 and were all out in the 38th over. If we had batted all 50 we’d have expected to be around the 200 mark, which would have made for a more interesting game. As it was I don’t think Swaine found it too easy as they lost six wickets in chasing down our total, and had it not been for an unbeaten 58 from John Ashton, again it might have been a bit closer.”

Like the other two promoted clubs Hoylandswaine and Kirkburton, Marsden have recruited for their tilt at the Premiership, but unlike the other two they don’t have the financial clout to bring in any big name players, and are hoping their ‘locally-grown’ products can step up to the plate this summer.

“There is a lot of spirit among the squad, which is predominantly very young, and many of whom have come up through our junior system,” said the skipper, who is also an established fixture behind the stumps, and who has won the Drakes League’s wicket-keeping prize for the last two years in succession.

“We simply don’t have the money to spend on players, and if we can finish something like fourth or fifth from the bottom, that will more or less reflect our budget.

“In Premiership football terms, we are probably a Burnley or a Hull, but if we can stay up and maybe have a decent Cup run as well, then I think we’d all be pretty happy this season.”

Having lost South African Peter Lombard, who had played a major role in getting Marsden into the top flight, at late notice, Butters had to move quickly to replace him and contacted New Zealander Patrick Hartland to check on his availability.

“I’d played with Patrick when I was in South Auckland a couple of years ago at the Pute Horley club, and he was delighted to get the chance to come over and play.

“He’s a 26-year-old slow left-armer, who will probably bat middle order, but has still to find his feet. It’s the first time he’s played in England and obviously it will take a while to settle in, but he’s a good lad and is living over in Manchester, and just pops over on the train.

“We were also lucky to drop on batsman Chris Coleman, who captained Eastcote cricket club in the Middlesex Premier League, but who now lives in Waterloo.

“Chris re-located to Huddersfield a couple of years ago, and commuted down south, but not surprisingly got fed up with that and is now based up here.

“We put an article on our website hoping we might be able to attract a player or two, and Chris responded, which was our good fortune and he will be one of our early order batsmen this summer.

“And then we also dropped on Israr Ul-Haq who a couple of seasons back played with Micklehurst, and who works for Honley Taxis. Originally from Pakistan, he is 38 and has been here since 2004 in Manchester, but has actually played first class cricket in Holland of all places.

“He is a leg spinner with a very unorthodox action, and has already taken seven wickets in two games and has made a few with the bat. He is very much a middle order man, a strong hitter, who only knows one way to play.

“And we’ve also been joined by James Farrell from Meltham, who moved across the top to join his brother Alistair, although he may be in an out and will probably miss out today to accommodate Nicky Clee, who is back from his football commitments.”

Son of elder Marsden statesman Norman, Nicky Clee is important to Marsden as an all-rounder, although his football commitment to Altrincham meant he played only 10 games last season, but he still managed almost 400 runs – including a best of 124 against Linthwaite.

“Obviously having Nicky back this week is a big plus, and we also have opening bowler Ian Bray back for the Sykes Cup game with Armitage Bridge, which will give me a five-strong attack, which includes young Sam Hall who is already bowling well and of course Chris Kilner, who opened up with a five-for against Scholes.

“It is on the batting front where we must improve. Our opener Martin Kyle is already looking in touch, while my younger brother Stevie will certainly get plenty of opportunity this season and will hopefully come good, but above all we have to bat out the overs to give ourselves a chance of making a decent score.”