Promoted Bradshaw keen to maintain the momentum

Bradshaw were promoted from Division Two as runners-up to impressive league returnees Illingworth St Mary’s last season and have made a promising start in the section above. Dean Cotton’s side have won their opening two games, against Clayton and Queensbury, and have some familiar faces back in their ranks. Simon Collins and Chris Shannon, capable with both bat and ball, are back from Jer Lane and Slaithwaite respectively while Bradshaw this week signed former Old Crossleyans skipper Jonny Sykes from SBCI. Sykes will start in Bob Fairbairn’s second team at Bradley and Colnebridge tomorrow as competition for places grows throughout the club. Bradshaw have resurrected their third team this season and club spokesman Mick Turner said “We’re definitely a club on the up.” The long-serving Turner said Collins and Shannon - who could line-up against his brother Steve this weekend - were players of Premier Division quality and they were pleased to have them back in their ranks. Cotton was back in charge after missing the second half of last season due to injury while wicket/batsman Adam Spendelow was among the players who had made a good start to the season. Turner said Bradshaw were hoping for consolidation or better in Division One plus a run in the Parish Cup, in which they travel to Blackley on May 13. However, he expects competition to be fierce. “We think it will be a very strong section this year with clubs like Sowerby Bridge, Blackley, Illingworth and us while we were very pleased to beat Clayton.” Looking ahead to this weekend’s game against Bridge, Turner added: “It should be a good challenge but we feel we are strong enough to beat anyone in our division.”