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But fellow Unicorn star Peter Manley suffered the home-town blues in Carlisle – crashing to heavy defeats against Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld.

Manley’s slump leaves him with a mountain to climb to qualify for Finals Day in Plymouth at the end of May. He has only four matches to play, including another clash with Taylor in Newport next Thursday. ‘One Dart’ has just four points and is now second from bottom in the table.

He was steamrollered by ‘The Power’ 8 legs to one, despite averaging nearly 102…..but just one successful double in eight attempts tells its own story. Manley actually had darts to win two legs against the throw early on. Once he had blown those chances, the match had gone as well.

Taylor didn’t miss much – averaging 107.75 – and a 53 per cent check-out rate. He has now surely booked his place in the semi-finals, along with Raymond Van Barneveld, who toppled Manley with ease 8-3.

“That was much more like it,” declared Taylor. “To win the Premier League is massive for me. I want that trophy again!”

It was a different story for Lloyd. He got the two points he so desperately needed – outclassing Baxter to win 8-4. Both players hit five 180s but Lloyd’s clinical finishing won the day, helped by an average of over 100.

Lloyd had laboured throughout the league but this victory takes him into 4th place and all of a sudden, he looks a good bet to reach those semi-finals.

“I am back in business,” he said. “That result is very good for me and very bad for the others! I needed to send out a message that Lloydy is starting to fire again. I know I did that. I am getting back into that consistent groove and I can feel the hunger again. I have so much more confidence now that I will qualify.”

Manley’s woes continued against Barney. He just couldn’t get into the game and the 8-3 scoreline was a fair reflection.

Barneveld and Taylor are coasting it at the top of the 2006 Holsten Premier League. Taylor has 13 points from seven games, while the Dutchman has 11 points, with a match in hand over ‘The Power’. They look certain to finish one and two.

Roland Scholten also looks a good bet, after fighting back from 6-4 down to grab a point against Wayne Mardle, in the match of the night. There were 11 maximum’s in the 14 legs and Scholten has cemented his 3rd place. He has eight points – three clear of Lloyd and Baxter.

Mardle threw away another great opportunity to secure his first win. He remains rooted to the bottom.

In week seven, the road-show heads for Newport. It’s a case of Double-Dutch for Lloyd, as he faces Scholten and Van Barneveld. Taylor takes on Manley, while Mardle plays Baxter.

It looks like Lloyd, Manley, Baxter and Mardle are now all battling for that last semi-final spot.

By Stuart Pyke