POOLE TOWN II 160-5 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 159 (5pts) by five wickets

BEAMINSTER slipped to the bottom of County Division One after a five-wicket defeat by leaders Poole Town Seconds.

Chris Park’s men travelled to Poole Park with an under-strength side and were bowled out for 159 despite a valiant 66 from the evergreen Simon Jones, plus a generous 38 extras.

That total was never likely to be enough, even after Ollie Bareham (2-58) and Ady Phillips (1-28) reduced Poole’s chase to 33-3.

Alex Allum (68) took over and, along with Luke Hall (35) and Kev Wrigley (18no), guided Poole home in 33 overs.

READ MORE: Beaminster lose to Wimborne Seconds by five wickets

Park said: “We did all right. Ady bowled probably better than a lot of our bowlers all season. He put the ball on a length and didn’t really give them much.

“Defending such a low total was always going to be hard but we took three quick wickets in a slightly aggressive field.

“We made them go over the top and that worked for us in the first few overs.

“Again, as has happened, a couple of batsmen got in and we didn’t have the firepower to dislodge them.

“But I’m really proud of the way we stuck at it, heads didn’t go down.”

Beaminster now go into a crucial contest at Plush, where they face eighth-placed Puddletown.

Park said: “We did really well on Saturday considering the side we had, but we’re in for a scrap. It’s a big old game.

“Puddletown have picked up a few results recently but I still believe we’re good enough to stay in the division.

“We’ve got a strong side out this week, which is going to help. We still haven’t been trounced apart from Chalke Valley, so we can do it.

“It’s down to each and every individual to step up and take responsibility for their own game, then stick together as a team to try and get that win.”

Will Moss, Ross Baker and debutant Will Owens come in for Ollie Hey, Jack Ronan and Ady Phillips.

Beaminster: Runyard, W Moss, Golledge, Jones, A Moss, Park, Baker, Bareham, Edmunds, Owens, Edwards.