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Baxenden caused the upset of the season when they beat champions and Jennings Ribblesdale League leaders Padiham at the weekend.

But to students of form it might not have come as too big a shock with the Back Lane club emerging as one of the form horses of the league after a lengthy spell in the doldrums.

After finishing second-from-bottom of the table last season and failing to chalk up a victory in their first five games, Peter Usher's side have now won four on the bounce. ``We are playing with confidence, that's the big difference,'' insisted Usher.

``We are not bowling that one bad ball an over and at the start, if we lost one wicket, we were losing three.''

Old habits still die hard, however, as Baxenden survived a late hiccup before completing a five-wicket win over previously unbeaten Padiham.

Having got to within two runs of victory for the loss of two wickets, they then managed to lose three more in the space of four balls.

However, 69 from former paid man David Usher had successfully underpinned the run-chase after new professional Ronnie Davies had taken five wickets in Padiham's 128-9 to take his tally to 13 in the last four games.

``The pro is bowling quick. He's got his rhythm now and he's doing well. Everybody at the club loves him,'' added Peter, whose duck betrayed the fact that he has been leading by example with the bat in recent weeks. ``I've had a good start to the season but the top five batsman have all passed 50 and that helps when everyone is getting a bit of batting under their belts.''

Wicketkeeper Andy Holroyd, a winter recruit from Cherry Tree, has also weighed in with some important runs as Baxenden have finally got their season up-and-running.

``We had one no-result early on and threw two of games away, although we were outplayed by Cherry Tree and Earby,'' admitted Usher, who feels his side is now showing its true colours.

``Our aim is to get into fourth spot and into the Lancashire Trophy.

``It's got to be realistic, but we have to keep it going. I think you can afford to lose six or seven games and still finish in fourth spot, so we can only afford to lose another couple.''

Baxenden will do well to keep their run going on Saturday when they travel to take on an equally improved Read side, which handed Ribblesdale Wanderers their first defeat of the season on Saturday.

``I think Peter Sleep has turned the club around. It needed a more professional attitude and he is doing that,'' said Peter, as he looks forward to meeting his former club after sweeping the new broom around the Baxenden camp.

``I am enjoying the captaincy,'' he added. ``Everybody is 100 per cent behind me. It helped that being near the bottom of the league last season everybody knew we needed to make changes.''