ROSS Monaghan proved the difference at the weekend, as Keighley lost to mid-table East Bierley at Lawkholme by three wickets in Division One of the Bradford Premier League.

East Bierley all-rounder Monaghan took 5-35 in swinging conditions to help dismiss Keighley for only 156, before he hit 56 not out to guide his side home.

The fixture between these two earlier in the season had been a close run thing, with Bierley pipping Keighley by one wicket.

And it was Keighley who batted first on this occasion too, as skipper Scott Etherington lost the toss.

On a murky early afternoon, he was invited to bat first, with the expectation that the ball would swing in the conditions.

That proved to be the case, as Bierley pacemen Nisar Ahmad (3-80) and Monaghan found swing and movement from the very first ball.

Keighley’s batting line-up did not have much of an answer to some very good tight bowling.

Ben Helmsley tried in vain to hold an end up with a gritty 44 but despite a brief flurry of shots from keeper Adam Smith (38), the Lawkholme Laners succumbed to a lowly 156 in just the 30th over.

In reply, Keighley’s own bowling attack got off to a great start, with overseas starlet Noah Mcfadyen (3-53) ripping through the top order.

Leg spinner James Massheder was then introduced into the attack and his 3-37 suddenly had the away team at 109-6.

But sadly for Keighley, Monaghan again proved to be the thorn in their side and his calm unbeaten half-century saw Bierley over the line with three wickets to spare.

Etherington bemoaned his side’s batting performance and felt that if they had used their allotted 50 overs, then things would have more than likely been much different.

The first team, who now sit ninth in the 12-team table, will look to put any lingering fears of relegation to bed when they travel to fifth-placed Birstall this coming weekend.

Keighley’s second string were due to travel to Wakefield St Michael’s at the weekend in Reserves Division Two of the Bradford Premier League.

However, the home team were sadly unable to put a team together and had to concede the match, giving Keighley maximum points.

That has pushed them back up to third place in the league but 18 points behind second-placed Altofts.

The seconds entertain Birtsall this coming weekend at Lawkholme.