LISBURN went into this weekend’s NCU Premier League double-header against North Down and Carrickfergus seemingly in the middle of a desperate struggle against relegation.

They finished it last night with two superb victories and with their survival in the top flight almost certainly already secure.

A 39-run win over Carrick propelled David Simpson’s men into the middle of a highly-congested Premier League table, but it also left the visitors marooned at the bottom.

Carrick are two wins adrift and worse still they will have to play effectively the remainder of the season without Ryan Eagleson, their best bowler.

Eagleson is heading to Australia for the best part of a month in his role as Ireland under-19 coach and without him an already depleted bowling attack will be threadbare.

Carrick’s problems were encapsulated by the first half of this game. Just as they couldn’t defend 347 against Ballymena last week, they failed to press home an early advantage here.

Anthony Martin struck early to remove Steven Allen and Eagleson followed that up by forcing Robert Rankin to miscue a pull shot to mid-on. Martin then produced a beautiful delivery that swung away extravagantly from professional Darryl Brown and removed his off-stump.

Lisburn were in deep trouble on 24 for three but in helpful conditions Carrick didn’t have the attack to press home their advantage. Ross Gelderbloem, the captain, was some way short of full pace because of a persistent ankle problem and in truth they don’t have a top quality spinner.

Greg Thompson (50) and David Simpson (58), probably Lisburn’s best two batsmen, took full advantage in an 85-run stand for the fourth wicket. They hit six and five boundaries respectively and the home side appeared to be on their way to something well in excess of 200 until four wickets fell for 10 runs.

At 159 for eight, Lisburn needed a fine 42-run stand for the ninth wicket between the Lisnagarvey and Ireland hockey star Johnny Bell (25 no) and Richard Simpson (15 no) to take them to 201 in their 50 overs.

For a while it didn’t look to be enough as Carrick's second-wicket pair Jamie Holmes and Michael Gilmour added 80 in double quick time.

Brown made the crucial breakthrough in the 16th over by bowling Gilmour after a superb 46 from 41 balls, including eight fours, and Gelderbloem fell immediately, adjudged lbw to Thompson (2-21). With Holmes the fourth man out for 43 from 70 balls, it was advantage Lisburn.

Even then Carrick got themselves back into a winning position only to blow it spectacularly. Eagleson and Alex Haggan added 31 to take the visitors to 134 for four in the 33rd over but the latter’s reckless dismissal, bowled by the excellent off-spinner Hennie van der Merwe (4-24), sparked a fatal collapse.

They lost five wickets for 12 runs in just five overs to slump to 146 for nine and although the injured Michael Taiaroa held on defiantly Carrick were dismissed for 162 with more than seven overs still unused.