BARNSLEY Woolley Miners hope their local derby at home to Elsecar will be a turning point in their battle against relegation from the ECB Yorkshire Premier South.
It was a second league victory of the season for the Shaw Laners who are level on points with new bottom side Elsecar with a better net run-rate.
They are the two teams in the relegation zone and seven points off safety with the halfway point of the season approaching this weekend.
Barnsley had lost their previous five league games.
Barnsley captain Liam Johnson said: “It was a really big win.
“After our previous game, we spoke very openly and honestly.
“We knew we had three games coming up against teams around us in the table – Elsecar, Treeton and Shiregreen – and we’d have to really graft to get wins.
“It was a good response to get that first win for a while and we’re looking for more now to get us up the table.
“If we had lost to Elsecar, it would have been out of our hands and we would have had to hope other teams lose.
“We’ll be looking to get out of the relegation zone, get some breathing space and confidence, then move into mid-table later in the season.
“We generally get better throughout the season but don’t usually start as badly as this.
“We think we can kick on from this win now. We said that last time and obviously it didn’t happen, so we need to make sure it does this time.
Elsecar were bowled out for 118 with Samarpit Joshi making 53.
Barnsley’s Jacob Cumming took three for 17 off 15 overs then Oliver Jackson four for 38.
Barnsley won with six wickets and 19.4 overs left.
Meanwhile, Cawthorne lost at home to Treeton despite a superb individual performance by Liam Wiles.
He took four wickets then hit 134 off 99 balls with nine fours and ten sixes.
But Cawthorne were bowled out for 224 chasing 261.
Cawthorne are eighth, 12 points clear of Barnsley and Elsecar.
