FERNDOWN WAYFARERS 217-8 (19pts) beat WEYMOUTH 188 (7pts) by 29 runs

A DEJECTED Kieron Womble saw his side squander a golden opportunity to book their place in the Premier One play-offs with a shock defeat at bottom side Ferndown Wayfarers.

The hosts tore up the form book and secured what turned out to be a comfortable 29-run victory, their first success of the season.

Weymouth remain second in the Premier One standings but are now only five points clear of fifth-placed Broadstone.

With his side chasing 218 to win, frustrated all-rounder Simon Browne, who also claimed standout figures of 4-44 with the ball earlier in the day, was left stranded at the end of the Seasiders’ run-chase on 30 not out, running out of partners with a total of 14 deliveries left unused.

On the defeat, half-century maker Womble told Echosport: “I think we started off well with the ball in the first 35 overs but in the last 15 we really let it slip, it cost us a lot of runs.

“That may have been a bit down to myself but the other bowlers as well.

“They (Ferndown) batted very well but we threw a few four balls in there. We let them off the hook and it cost us in the end.

“We fought hard at the start with the bat, but at the end when you need nine or 10 an over you have to chance your arm and unfortunately it didn’t pay off.

“I think we left Browner a bit stranded and the rate got up too high at the end.

“It was a very disappointing game. I was disappointed that we didn’t get within 10 per cent of their score for the extra points as well.

“We have to bounce back this weekend.”

A place in the top four is still in the hands of the Seasiders, providing they win their home fixture against Wimborne & Colehill, and the skipper is keen to banish the thought of Saturday’s defeat going into this weekend’s crunch clash.

He added: “We really have to forget about this one to get our place in that top four.”