Dumfries spring a surprise with Ferguslie win

Dumfries captain Chris Mccutcheon fears he may have a fight to win back his place after missing his side’s shock win over Ferguslie on Saturday.

The Nunholm side started as heavy underdogs against last season’s Western Premier runners-up but recovered from a dreadful start to record victory by 62 runs. Mccutcheon, though, was marked absent, having setoff early for Seville to support Rangers in Wednesday’s Europa League final.

He said “That was a fantastic performance by the lads – if I wasn’t captain, I might be struggling to get a game!

“It might surprise some people but not me. I don’t think there’s any way we will be involved in a relegation fight this season. I believe we should be targeting a a topfour finish.” Dumfries were up against it when Adil Ghaffar struck twice to reduce them to 3-2 before Tom Mcbride sparked the recovery with a battling 43 while Alan Davidson’s 66-ball 60 hoisted the tally to 199.

Ferguslie were still fancied but the home bowlers and fielders applied impressive pressure forcing errors from the batters who eventually succumbed to 137 all out.

Elsewhere, champions Clydesdale cruised to an eight-wicket win over Langside and are joined at the top of the table by Prestwick who won by 103 runs at Kelburne. Uddingston and West of Scotland recorded first wins against Ayr and Stirling.

In the Eastern Premier League, Forfarshire beat Falkland at Scroggie Park, Heriot’s defeated Watsonians andgrangeandcorstorphine had derby wins over Carlton and Stewarts Melville while Arbroath went down to Stoneywood-dyce.*