Gidea Park & Romford 273-1
Woodford Green 158-10
(Lge Cup Rnd One)

A DOMINANT batting display from Gidea Park and Romford sealed a crushing 115-run victory over Woodford Wells and ended the visitors' League Cup hopes.

The third division side made little impact against their Premier League hosts and were soon chasing the ball all over the park.

Gidea Park openers Luke Baker and Russ Collard put on 193 for the first wicket from 33 overs, with both men getting their season under way in style with centuries. Collard was eventually run out for 110 off 90 balls after battling away and smashing eight fours and three sixes.

Fellow opener Baker carried his bat to register a fine 102 not out, including five fours while the only other batsman called into action, Andy Churchill, contributed 38 to a partnership of 80 from the final 12 overs.

The net result was that Gidea Park were able to reach an imposing total of 273-1 from their 45 overs and put the game out of Woodford's reach.

Their task became that much harder at the beginning of their reply, when opener Tom Monk (nil) and Rob Newman (one) were dismissed by Imran Rahim and Mike Allen respectively.

Woodford's Kamran Ali (16) and Khushi, who top scored with 57, gave some stability.

But their efforts were to prove in vain as Gidea Park made their class tell.

This was despite skipper Sean Martin grafting his way to an unbeaten score of 22.

Jason Toogood lived up to his name by claiming two wickets, a feat also achieved by Chris Hendriks, while Phil Goldstone shone with 3-23.

Woodford were all out for 158 and will have to forget about League Cup success for another season.