STOURBRIDGE find themselves staring relegation in face following their seven-wicket defeat to second-from-bottom side Coventry and North Warwickshire last Saturday.

That was after Stourbridge posted a total of 195 all out, a target which Coventry knocked off with consummate ease at Binley Road.

The result leaves Stourbridge anchored at the bottom of the table, some 68 points adrift of safety with only seven games remaining.

In truth, they now have a mountain to climb to avoid an almost inevitable drop into Division Three.

Skipper Matt Bradley said: “Coventry bowled well on a tricky wicket and we had to bat steadily as a result.

“Although 195 was an OK score, we couldn’t take wickets in reply and the target was never enough to threaten them.

“It was like a slow death and the fact was the team who are second from bottom outplayed us.

“We will now look to concentrate on some of the younger players coming through, , such as 16-year-old off-break bowler Dominic O’Reilly and 15-year-old all-rounder Zane Ul-Hassan.”

Against Coventry, Stourbridge made a poor start with the bat losing experienced opener Harshad Patel without a run on the board and then Tarryck Gabriel for nine.

Recovery came from the Bradley brothers putting on 78 runs in 20 overs after Josh Banks had been judged lbw for 10 off 60 balls in the 19th over.

Richard Bradley was made to work hard for his 52 off 96 balls, when finally out trying to hook Harry Horsley.

Matt Bradley went onto make 64 before being given out caught behind off Ashley Turney, despite protests the ball had not carried.

By that stage Matt Bradley and Alex Bingham had pushed the score to 172 for five. But once Bingham was caught on the boundary for 31, Stourbridge folded to 195 all out.

In reply, Stourbridge opening bowlers Zain Ul-Hassan and Jitesh Jivan Patel had Coventry well tied down but lacked any wickets to show for it.

After 20 overs, Tarryck Gabriel came on to take a caught and bowled with his first delivery to dismiss Horsley for 30 with the team total on 56.

Gabriel then had Jonathan Miles brilliantly caught in the slips for a duck.

Opener Matt Naylor and Amrinder Singh Brar then put on 100 in just 20 overs to end Stourbridge hopes of any points.

Brar (73) then became Gabriel’s (3-54) third victim when caught in the 42nd over with the total at 158-3.

Naylor with 63 and Greg Ricketts on 32 , both remained unbeaten and guided their side to victory in the 47th over.

Stourbridge will now hope for a change in fortunes on Saturday when they entertain local rivals Wombourne, who sit in sixth place in the league, at the War Memorial Ground (noon start).