OK, so you can't win them all but you want it to be at least close even if you don't win. This game definitely fits that category - it should have been close; it just wasn't!

The toss of the coin went the right way and based on the overcast conditions, likely fading light and burgeoning confidence with the bat the Saddos elected to take strike first. Tim Winfield and Simon Wilson opened the batting.

Winfield pulled a magnificent four to backward square leg off the third ball of the innings and the omens looked good for a strong opening stand and that's exactly what both batsmen delivered.

They were faced with good bowling from the Killigrew openers and bounce off the pitch that went beyond variable meaning that they initially found it hard to touch the ball let alone get it away. Despite this both looked relatively untroubled and with the first change of bowlers the opportunities to score runs began to increase. In the fourth over both batsmen hit boundaries with Wilson clipping a delightful ball off his legs to square and in the space of one over the run rate had doubled - 15 after 5, 30 after 6.

This was just what was needed and both batsmen were visibly growing in confidence while the Killigrew fielding was getting quieter. After 10 overs the run rate was just under six and a total of 120 plus looked on the cards. The call went out in succession to both batsmen that they would be retiring shortly. For Simon Wilson this prompted two boundaries but then an attempt at a desperate quick single that left him well out of his ground. Run out for a magnificent 27 including three boundaries with only the dismissal as an unjust blow to his averages.

Peter Cook joined the fray and after taking stock of the bounce hit a double to get off the mark. This was to be his last contribution as he then edged a ball through the slip area, Tim Winfield called a single and yet again this season we ended up with both batsmen at the same end of the wicket - not a good situation. The ball was thrown to the opposite end and a fuming Cook was returning to the sidelines.

Tim Winfield them left the centre with an undefeated 27 runs to his name including four boundaries - yet another great performance with the bat from our leading batsman for the second year running.

His departure meant the SFDWP had two new batsmen at the crease in the same over. Phil Spencer joined the attack in typically swashbuckling fashion attempting mighty hits from both ends of the wicket. The first spooned up and was thankfully spilled but unfortunately the second went to long on who held on with ease.

At the other end Pete Stauvers had only just broken his duck when he was given out to a plumb lbw by umpire Nick Button. He was closely followed by Richard Noden who clipped a ball back to the bowler and also departed cheaply. In one over the Saddos had descended from 69 for 2 to 70 for 5 and the bowler, Richard, had figures of 3 for 1 off one over.

Jonathon Hook and Roger Barton joined the attack but Hook was to fall to an edge to the keeper off the same bowler. Six wickets down and the tail had to wag!

To a certain extent it did. Barton played a sweet drive for four to the extra cover boundary while debutant Andy Lawrence was making light work of the bowling at the opposite end. They were both eventually to fall swinging out in the final over, Barton for 8 and Lawrence for 13 including one four but in context they were much needed runs.

Nick Button and Ian Holmes closed the innings off although neither had time to offer significant contributions and the Saddos closed at 96 for 8. After a strong start this was a highly disappointing total.

Captain Ian Holmes opted to open with a strong bowling attack, the Saddos only chance of victory being quick wickets.

Phil Spencer opened the bowling with an aggressive spell but the pace only helped the ball off the bat and four balls from the first over went for boundaries. He responded with a magnificent spell, taking out the middle stump of the big hitting batsman in a wicket maiden second over. Vengeance!

At the Westminster Lodge end Andy Lawrence was delivering a tight spell but without runs on the board things were looking bleak.

The change of bowling was to slow things down for Killigrew. Tim Winfield bowled neatly but Nick Button bowled exceptionally - two overs, two runs and a wicket maiden accounting for the other Killigrew opener.

While this was going on Simon Wilson was keeping wicket as if it was a flat, slow pitch. Only one bye scored on a corrugated surface is testimony to his superb keeping and quick eye and rightly he earned his place as man-of-the-match for his all round performance.

Richard Noden's first over continued the theme conceding only one run and the possibility of an unlikely victory began to look possible. After nine overs only 46 on the board meant that unbelievably the Saddos were in front!

How quickly it turned around as the Killigrew batsmen put the bowlers to the sword. Both Noden and Jonathan Hook were hit for six and the Pete Stauvers, despite reasonable length deliveries, had three maximums and a four hit off his first over.

It became a process of playing out the time and a final boundary closed the innings after only 14.1 overs.

You have to look for positives in a performance like this. Without doubt the opening batting pair of Tim Winfield and Simon Wilson provided that while the wicket keeping of Wilson was just majestic. For a while Killigrew were worried - just not long enough!

Surely we can't finish the season like this though…? If not another match then another tournament has to beckon!