North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club (NATTC) climbed to the top of the senior British Premier League despite travelling to London missing one of the teams regular players.

This is the top league in the UK, made up of eight teams, and North Ayrshire have been competing in it for the past five years.

They are the only Scottish side in the league and are considered “minnows” within this, with other clubs giants of the sport in comparison.

The three-man team was made up of Sean Docherty, who was replacing the injured Martin Johnson, Scottish number two Colin Dalgleish and Chris Main.

With Chris Main an injury doubt, sixteen-year-old Jamie Johnson (Martin’s younger brother), also travelled with the squad for a potential league debut.

The North Ayrshire outfit would be facing off against BATTS 1, who had won one of their previous three fixtures.

The match would be made up of seven games - six singles matches and a doubles game.

It proved to be a thriller with almost all of the matches going the distance - in a best of five sets contest.

Chris proved to be fit for the event, and took part in two of the singles matches.

The first two matches, both singles games, went in North Ayrshire’s favour, giving them a commanding 2-0 lead in the overall tie.

Both matches went the distance, but NATTC just had the edge to win both games 3-2.

The doubles match was always going to be vital, and it was to be another tight affair.

However, Colin and Sean stepped up to the plate and delivered another point for North Ayrshire, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead overall.

Things quickly got uncomfortable though, with Chris, and then Sean, both losing the next two singles games by a score of 3-1.

This brought the total score in the match to 3-2, in North Ayrshire’s favour.

The final two singles matches took place simultaneously and Chris Main would be defeated narrowly by BATTS number one player.

The thrilling match ended 3-2, meaning the overall score was now level, with the final result for the game was in the hands of Colin Dalgleish.

Things were looking ominous as he lost out in the first two sets, meaning if he were to drop another the contest would be over.

Although this was not to be the case, as Colin brought his A game to ensure he won his game 3-2, and as a result NATTC would take the points, winning the thrilling match 4-3 overall.

They now sit atop the league and despite having played a game more than the teams below them, everyone at the club are extremely proud.

The league gets split into top and bottom four and NATTC are aiming for a top four place for the first time.

There next match, on February 19, will see them taking on the unbeaten Archway.

For the latest from the club, including how to watch some of their league matches, visit the ‘North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club’ Facebook page.