This was a straight shoot out between the two for the right to top the Joseph Holt Trophy Group 1 and go through to the quarter final knock out stage.

And it was the Wirral side that triumphed, turning things round spectacularly after a faltering start.

Chester had their tails up with the early dismissal of Cheshire’s weekend hero, Will Evans. And at 55-5 with the top order back in the hutch, 100 looked some way off. But Ian Gill (49) and Joe Hornby (50*) had other ideas.

The pair added 74 for the sixth wicket setting up what had seemed an unlikely target of 155-8. Jack Williams was the pick of the Chester bowlers with 2-9.

Chester had reached 50 by the time they lost their first wicket but finding the big hits was tough going against Ash Davis and Luke Jones.

Warren Goodwin made 31 and Rick Moore 38 but when Jordan Clark went for 16 and Chester were 82-2, they had to up the ante.

Wickets were in hand but the runs dried up as the Shrimpers turned the screw, Matty Ayre taking 3-43, Matt Stewart 3-28.

Neston excelled in the field and time ran out for Chester despite 24 and some lusty hits from Williams at the death.