IT’S a step into the unknown for Chirk in the Shropshire League this weekend.

Luke Gardner’s side will continue their Division One programme tomorrow with a trip to Forton.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said Gardner (pictured right). “I’ve never played against Forton.”

It’s a mid-table encounter, with seventh-placed Chirk travelling to a side one position below them in the standings.

However, Chirk will travel with confidence on the back of their six-wicket triumph versus Lilleshall last time out.

“If I was to sum it up, it was another good bowling performance,” added Gardner. “We did enough with the bat. We would have liked to have done it with a couple less wickets down.

“All-in-all it was a good performance. I’m happy with it.”

The tough recent loss to Newtown still hurts, though, and Gardner stressed: “Our fielding has been superb.

“We should be going into the period now where we’re playing the teams below us.

“We’re all feeling great with what we are doing but it’s just a missed opportunity.

“This is usually the period Chirk stabilise and get good results for the next few weeks.”

Chirk will be without a key player tomorrow, with Gardner adding: “We’re still missing Gareth Partridge for another two weeks.

“I still think he’s third in the league (for runs) and he’s only played four games. I think the rest of the team should be fairly solid.”

In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds will host Corvedale.

A tough Liverpool Competition weekend is in the offing for Northop Hall.

Ben Slater’s side are on their travels to Division Two front-runners Hightown St Marys.

“It will be a competitive game,” stressed the Hall skipper, who looks set to welcome James Hurlin back into the line-up.

“They’re top of the league and they haven’t lost a game this year.

“We hope to get back into form.”

Northop Hall Seconds will have home advantage for their meeting with Hightown St Marys Seconds.

Chester Boughton Hall are just five points behind Cheshire County Premier League leaders Hyde ahead of tomorrow’s home meeting with Grappenhall.

Hall skipper Jack Williams said: “We’ve had a good run the last few weeks in the league and in the cups - progressing into the Cheshire T20 knockout and still in the Liverpool Echo T20 and Cheshire Cups.”