CHIRK are targeting their first outright win of the Shropshire League Division Two season after a ‘moral victory’ over Albrighton.

Andrew Swarbrick’s side picked up 16 points as they restricted Albrighton to 138 for eight after posting 194 for eight.

And although it wasn’t enough to clinch a first out and out victory since August 2017, Swarbrick is confident Chirk are heading in the right direction.

Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sentinel Seconds, Swarbrick said: “It felt like a win. They didn’t ever look like they were going to chase our total down.

“The Shropshire League is different to the North Wales League was when you could play for losing draws and winning draws, and 16 points is a healthy return.

“Now we’ve got a decent result we want to get that first outright win under our belts. That would go down a treat.”

Swarbrick knows where Chirk need to improve if they are to put more points on the board.

“Our fielding this season has given me so much hope,” he said. “Our bowling has been unlucky as well; I only bowled seven overs off two or three yards as a last resort.

“It’s our batting where we need to kick-on. The likes of myself, Nick Flack and Gaz Partridge all need to score big runs when we are set, which we pretty much were last week.”

With Swarbrick struggling for full fitness, Chris Martin stepped up with the ball, bagging 5-28.

“He was unbelievable,” added Swarbrick. “We were so lucky that we moved to the Shropshire League because he lives in Wolverhampton and wouldn’t be playing for us if we were still in North Wales.”

Swarbrick will be back to full-tilt tomorrow as Luke Gardner, Mark Shaw and James Carter return for Chirk, who remain without Stevie Kelshaw.

Chirk Seconds are back in action at home to Welshpool Seconds tomorrow, a week after they were forced to concede their scheduled trip to Beacon Thirds due to a player shortage.

In Division Six, Overton make their way to Willey Seconds.