FOLLOWING their agonising one wicket defeat at East Bierley the previous week, Keighley made the short journey to old rivals Baildon in their Bradford Premier League Division One match at the weekend.

And this time it was a much happier away day, as James Massheder's six wickets and Simon Bailey's half-century helped them to a four-wicket win.

Keighley skipper Scott Etherington won the toss and invited the home team to bat first on a green and slow looking wicket that would potentially benefit the bowlers.

But Baildon’s batsmen had other ideas and cautiously began to build a strong score stemming from their opening pair of Kevin McDermott (26) and top scorer James Ford (47), who put 55 on for the first wicket.

Ford then shared another 50 partnership with Jonny Reynolds (31), and at 147-3, Baildon were in a strong position.

Etherington moved quickly to change his bowlers around and the introduction of leg-spinner Massheder into the attack proved to be the masterstroke.

Massheder’s ability to vary his delivery was key as he ripped through Baildon’s middle and lower order taking an impressive 6-29 in his 10-over spell.

That meant Baildon were bowled out for just 173 in the 43rd over.

Keighley’s reply started disastrously, with three batsmen back in the changing room with only four runs scored and it looked like Baildon’s total was well out of reach.

But this brought together Noah McFadyen and Bailey, with the latter having spent the last 10 years playing at Jenny Lane.

The pair steadied the ship, putting on 86 for the fourth wicket before McFadyen was bowled for 35.

Bailey though found new support in Ben Helmsley and the duo were able to put a further 60 on the board together before Bailey eventually fell for 60 himself.

That left Helmsley to finish things off, being unbeaten on 42, as he got Keighley to the winning target with four wickets to spare.

The victory moves the Lawkholme Laners into a mid-table position and they entertain the dangerous Gomersal this weekend down at Lawkholme.

Keighley’s second eleven are sitting pretty in second, as they thumped Liversedge by eight wickets at Lawkholme in Reserves Division Two of the Bradford Premier League.

Keighley skipper Jamie Wilmshurst won the toss and decided to field first, hoping his bowlers could make early inroads in the Liversedge batting line up.

Liversedge opener Matthew Pickard found some form and his 31 helped to get his team to 55-3 at one stage.

But with Wilmshurst introducing his young spin attack of Louie Wilkinson (3-19) and Awais Khan (4-9) the game changed quickly, and with veteran Steve Butterfield also contributing with three wickets, the away team were dismissed for a lowly 98 in just the 30th over.

In reply, it didn’t take long for the in-form Humayan Shahzad to get his eye in and his 53 in just 48 deliveries defused any chance of a Liversedge counter attack.

With Azeem Hussain remaining unbeaten on 27, Keighley got over the line with eight wickets still standing in just the 23rd over.

Things are going well for Keighley's seconds, but Wilmshurst says his side will not be complacent when they make the journey to mid-table Ossett this weekend.