Goole Town CC First XI remain in pole position in the Yorkshire Premier League North – Division 1 Championship race thanks to a 27-point haul at Bolton Percy on Saturday, though not for the first time, Kevin Murphy’s side needed to hold their nerve in another desperately close and tense encounter.

On a weekend where Yorkshire was the centerpiece for one of the most remarkable cricket moments of our time, Goole pulled off a heist of their own in the stunning surroundings of Bolton Percy, Dave England defending six runs in a nerveless final over that might well prove to be the decisive moment in a season that has provided twists and turns at every corner.

It ought to have been plain sailing for Goole after Oscar Sugden and Ashton Nottingham combined for a second-wicket partnership of 96 that was the backbone of the visitors’ 235 all out.

Following on from his crucial 40 in the victory over Hornsea seven days previously, Nottingham took the lead role, unfurling some crisp strokes through the off-side off front and back foot, and it was a surprise when his innings was cut short on 53, such was the ease in which he had registered his first half-century of an otherwise frustrating campaign.

Sugden, happy to play second fiddle as he bedded himself in for a long stay at the crease, was now beginning to find something close to his best form and was soon raising his bat to the pavilion as he went past 50 himself, a snap of the wrists sending the ball whistling to midwicket fence on couple of occasions as the hosts began to wilt in the piercing August sun.

Still, his dismissal for a well-crafted 72 halted Goole’s momentum somewhat and despite brief cameos from Murphy (25) and Louis Sugden (14), a final total of 235 felt something close to 30 runs short on a flat pitch that sat in the centre of a couple of notoriously short boundaries.

In reply, Bolton Percy began in circumspect fashion as new-ball pairing Richard Mann and Aidan Coulbeck bowled with impressive control and having made the initial breakthrough, the former might well have dismissed danger-man Tom Atkinson had he not removed second slip only moments earlier, Atkinson edging through the cordon at catchable height. That reprieve looked like it might prove a big moment in the run chase as Atkinson welcomed spinners Murphy and England with immediate aggression, but Goole enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune when he hit a full toss from Guy Richardson straight into the hands of Neil Foster on the midwicket fence, his promising start ending on 35.

A brisk stand of 49 between Thomas and Giles Anderson kept Bolton Percy’s noses in front and at 122-2, Goole were again on the back foot before England picked up the first of his three wickets. It was to prove a crucial opening and although the home side continued to march towards their target, Goole managed to chip away with the ball, Coulbeck (1-29) and Mann (2-39) each making further inroads when returned to the attack while Danny White did his best to keep his side on track.

White came out on the right side of a couple of huge lbw appeals that Goole can rightly feel aggrieved not to have won but he couldn’t get the better of some fine death bowling, firstly from Richardson (2-37) who displayed maturity beyond his years to recover from a poor first spell and deliver an excellent penultimate over which kept Goole alive.

With only six to defend from the last over and White holding court, Goole were still on the brink as Murphy played his final hand and threw the ball to England. The old master responded in typically cool fashion, tempting White (31) to pick out long-on where Eddie Haskell held expertly in the shadows of the rope – one of two fine catches for the youngster – before Murphy held a smart catch of his own three balls later.

Goole might have taken all 30 points had another veracious lbw appeal from England’s (3-67) final delivery not been rejected but with defeat avoided and another haul of points in the bag, the visitors were happy to head home still, somehow, sitting on top of the table.