Higham on the verge of welcoming the autumn put their past Sunday misery's behind them as they put in a solid team performance to a record a long awaited victory over a tough and determined Ash side.

Winning the toss and deciding to field in the stunning afternoon sun that graced Ham River Hill Higham openers Leigh Short and Stephen Bell found early movement and passed the edge of both openers Furze and Maddocks on regular abundance without any luck and success.

Runs where at a premium but both openers hung around and Maddocks released some of the shackles with a handful of back foot drives. As the opening partnership neared 50, Furze misjudged a delivery from Ant Say and was trapped in front of all 3 stumps.

Pearce joined Maddocks and instantly upped the tempo and showed his positive intentions. Together they combined and nurdled the ball around the ground taking sharp singles mixed in with the odd boundary. After putting on a partnership of 50, Pearce lost concentration and failed to beat the throw from the lethal Matthew Southwold on the deep square leg boundary and was comprehensibly run out.

Steady bowling from the Higham bowlers kept the pressure as Ash found it tough going. Craig Cooper added to Ash's woes as Graham lobbed to mid off and was well held by Mark Cunningham. Maddocks made it to 50 but his vigil came to an end soon after as he failed to keep out a yorker from the impressive Craig Cooper.

R.Furze came in and with time running out, hit out from the start punishing anything short and putting on a quick fire 34 before falling to Dan Jones at the death. Furze's quick fire innings had pushed Ash onto a valuable total of 184-5 by tea.

Higham looked to be positive from the start and the hopes where with the conventional Peter Carter and somewhat unconventional style of Matthew Southwold. Both openers began quietly and Southwold gave a couple of early chances that Ash failed to take.

Peter Carter looked settled as he classically whipped Amphlett through the square leg boundary. Ash struck as Carter looked to repeat his flick through square leg but only managed to guide it into the hands of Pearce.

Mark Cunningham joined Matt Southwold and Ash introduced some spin in the form of slow left armer Barritt to trouble the duo. Both played watchfully until Southwold played his reverse sweep which kicked started the innings as both batsmen began playing freely and making the Ash fielders charge round the boundary on regular occasions.

Ash had no answer and Higham feasted on the bowling with Mark Cunningham in destructive mood to bring up another fine fifty. As Matthew Southwold looked for his fifty, Barritt found a leading edge and Southwold was easily caught in the covers for an agonising 49.

Ash had no respite as the experienced old hand Duncan Spencer came in and teamed up well with Mark Cunningham and continued to push Higham to there victory target. Mark Cunningham departed as he was bowled looking to pull a full ball from Pearce.

Captain Richard Shackleton came to the crease and looked assured and confident as he pushed the ball around sharing the strike with Duncan Spencer. Ash strived for a further wicket but the Beggar's batsmen waited for the regular bad ball and put it away with ease to keep the run rate at a healthy level and eventually overhauled the Ash target with ease.