Seaton still have a little work to do to ensure they are still in the third tier of the Tolchards League when the 2018 season is with us after they slipped to a six wicket defeat at a Barton side that had started the day sitting second bottom, 30 points and two placed below them in the B Division table.

The Seaton batsmen must have feared the worst when they were invited to bat first on a wicket that looked to have suffered with the midweek rain, and with an outfield that did seem as if it had not seen a mower for a time!

Indeed, half the side were back in the away dressing room for the grand sum of just 27 runs.

It was only a bullish knock from skipper Ben Morgan – he hit 28 from a 71-ball stay at the wicket – that helped his side to their all out total of 89 in 36.3 overs.

The only other score into double figures – aside of the 21 extras – was the 10 scored by number eight batsman Phil Collins.

It was Collins who gave the home side something to think about as he whipped out the home sides first three batsmen and left the reply rocking on 10-3.

However, just one more wicket was taken – a Stephen Pritchard catch off the bowling of Tim Mitchell – as Barton eased to a six wicket success, needing just 18.2 overs to reach the 91-4 score that brought them a maximum point victory.

With Thorverton, who started the day sandwiched between Seaton and second bottom Barton, also winning, it means that Seaton are now just 14 points clear of the relegation places with two games (40 points) to play for.

Seaton’s salvation looks to be that Barton are at Thorverton this Saturday (August 26) when Ben Morgan and his men are at Shobrooke Park and them on the final day of the season, Seaton host an Ottery St Mary side that have yet to win this term while Barton host Bideford and Thorverton visit Filleigh.