A 12-run defeat at Wavertree in June was the turning point that inspired Northop Hall to promotion from Division Two, according to skipper Ben Slater.

The result left the Welshmen 35 points behind second place Caldy after 10 games of the season, with the Wirral side and Ainsdale looking locked-in for the top two.

Now, 10 games later – nine wins and one draw, compared with just four wins, a draw and five defeats for Caldy – Slater’s side can look forward to Division One cricket next year.

Wicketkeeper Slater said: “We lost at Wavertree and I just think from there you go one of two ways. 

“You either react to that and perform or you go the other way and you probably underperform, lose a couple of games in the next few and that’s the difference. 

“Everyone reacted really well to the loss, that’s what changed it for us.

“I think it made us realise that we pretty much had to win every game until the end of the year. 

“And obviously that’s almost what we’ve done.”

Northop Hall are currently on 402 points, a total greater than the Division Two champions have managed in all but three of the 14 seasons since the third tier was introduced to the Comp in 2010.

Ainsdale are four points ahead – with two games left, both sides are likely to challenge the record of 435, set by St Helens Town in the first iteration.

Slater added: “It’s been a long old year and I think it’s the most points you’ve needed in a long time to actually get promoted. 

“But obviously we’ve won plenty of games and just carried the momentum through as much as possible.”

Leading the stats for Northop Hall are veteran left-arm spinner Paul Jenkins, who has rolled back the years with his best ever return of 86 wickets in the league, and Jac Kennedy, who has made 612 runs since rejoining his boyhood club after two seasons living the high life at Northern.

“Paul has been absolutely fantastic on and off the pitch,” said Slater. 

“It’s been amazing to have him in the changing room, with so much experience.

“For Jac, it’s a bit different to playing at Northern week in, week out considering some of the wickets. 

“But he’s been great to have around as well.”

Hall finish the season with home games against Whitefield and Wavertree, and the title is still a possibility.

Slater would love to round off the season by lifting a trophy, but he knows the main objective has been completed.

He added: “The main priority was to get promoted and the title was a secondary thing. 

“It’d be nice to win the league, but the main thing is we want to play a better level of cricket.”

(Edited at 9.35am on Thursday, September 11 to remove an incorrect table.)