The top four teams in North West Metropolitan Cricket Association continued to assert their dominance on the league in the first round of the new year on Saturday, with the top three all winning.

Gladstone Park is one of four teams placed fifth to eighth on 15 points, a massive 18 off the pace of fourth-placed Sydenham-Hillside (33).

A four-wicket defeat to Pascoe Vale Central at the weekend leaves Gladstone Park in sixth on percentage.

The home team made 131 at Tullamarine Reserve on Saturday but Pascoe Vale Central reached the target with four wickets in hand and 28 balls to spare.

Seventh-placed Roxburgh Park got some joy however, forcing the four-way tie with a 60-run win against Burnside Springs that relegated the latter to the bottom of the table.

Roxburgh Park lost two wickets on 56 after a promising opening stand, but the mini-collapse would partner Harley Short (74) with Andrew Spencer (77) and the duo would not be separated until 3-186 and a stand of 130 for the third wicket.

Roxburgh Park finished 4-261 off its 40 overs and bowled out Burnside Springs for 201 in 38. Better bowlers were Jihad Mourad (2-16), Bradley Lynch (2-28) and Short (2-35).

In Athol Attwater Shield, Campbellfield made a losing start to the new year after falling seven runs short of East Coburg.

The previously unbeaten Campbellfield made 161 in reply to East Coburg's 168. Allan Mitchell (56) was the only Campbellfield batsman past 20 while Mo Kaakour (3-48) and Jamil Sukhon (3-10) had earlier been best of the bowlers.

Campbellfield still leads the division, its 54 points nine clear of second-placed East Coburg on 45.