A second defeat in the past three matches has seen Totton & Eling’s once powerful lead at the top of Southern Premier League Division 2 trimmed to a mere 23 points.
Some 42 points clear of third placed Liphook & Ripsley, they are virtually assured promotion; indeed, they will be if St Cross Symondians II win at Ripsley Park on Saturday.
But skipper Sam Bracey ideally wants Totton to rise as SPL2 champions instead of becoming embroiled in a frantic scrap for the silverware with St Cross, who are gradually closing the gap.
Beating noisy neighbours Paultons at Southern Gardens this weekend is a must for Totton, who were rolled over for 106 and beaten by an identical margin at Fair Oak.
The Oaks posted 212-9, mainly on the back of second-wicket duo Tom Hockenhull (43) and Ed Kemp (29) and later, after a partial wobble, middle-order trio Rufus Bullough (27), Rhys Oxley (23) and Assad Abbas (24).
Opener Oli Thomas (35) stood alone as Fair Oak cut through the Totton batting – key man James Taylor was on Team Solent soccer management duty - and was eighth out at 83. Charlie Gwynn took 3-20.
Jack Middleton made an unbeaten 91 as St Cross Symondians beat relegation threatened Basingstoke & North Hants II by 67 runs.
Jason Laney (38) and Steve Hirst (27) earlier provided St Cross a bright 73-run start, which became 89-4 with four wickets falling for 16 runs to Greg Donaldson (3-28).
Middleton, the highly respected ladies’ hockey coach, later added an important 68 with James Allen (24) as St Cross batted themselves into a winning position.
Joshua Coombs (34) and Josh May (26) eased Basingstoke to 84-1 before leading SPL2 scalp hunter Dave Orchard pictured cherry-picked 5-30 and the visitors collapsed. Josh Weir (36) helped BNH to an eventual 151.
Orchard now has 39 wickets and is only six victims short of a record Premier 2 haul. Left-arm spinner and Sky Sports angling guru Andy Ford (once hit for six sixes in an over by Kevin Cresswell in a Southampton Evening League match at Mansell Rec) took 44 for Burridge in 2006.
Remaining matches –
Totton & Eling: Paultons (h), Hartley Wintney (a), Basingstoke & North Hants (a).
St Cross Symondians: Liphook & Ripsley (a), South Wilts II (h), Fair Oak (a).
Some 42 points clear of third placed Liphook & Ripsley, they are virtually assured promotion; indeed, they will be if St Cross Symondians II win at Ripsley Park on Saturday.
But skipper Sam Bracey ideally wants Totton to rise as SPL2 champions instead of becoming embroiled in a frantic scrap for the silverware with St Cross, who are gradually closing the gap.
Beating noisy neighbours Paultons at Southern Gardens this weekend is a must for Totton, who were rolled over for 106 and beaten by an identical margin at Fair Oak.
The Oaks posted 212-9, mainly on the back of second-wicket duo Tom Hockenhull (43) and Ed Kemp (29) and later, after a partial wobble, middle-order trio Rufus Bullough (27), Rhys Oxley (23) and Assad Abbas (24).
Opener Oli Thomas (35) stood alone as Fair Oak cut through the Totton batting – key man James Taylor was on Team Solent soccer management duty - and was eighth out at 83. Charlie Gwynn took 3-20.
Jack Middleton made an unbeaten 91 as St Cross Symondians beat relegation threatened Basingstoke & North Hants II by 67 runs.
Jason Laney (38) and Steve Hirst (27) earlier provided St Cross a bright 73-run start, which became 89-4 with four wickets falling for 16 runs to Greg Donaldson (3-28).
Middleton, the highly respected ladies’ hockey coach, later added an important 68 with James Allen (24) as St Cross batted themselves into a winning position.
Joshua Coombs (34) and Josh May (26) eased Basingstoke to 84-1 before leading SPL2 scalp hunter Dave Orchard pictured cherry-picked 5-30 and the visitors collapsed. Josh Weir (36) helped BNH to an eventual 151.
Orchard now has 39 wickets and is only six victims short of a record Premier 2 haul. Left-arm spinner and Sky Sports angling guru Andy Ford (once hit for six sixes in an over by Kevin Cresswell in a Southampton Evening League match at Mansell Rec) took 44 for Burridge in 2006.
Remaining matches –
Totton & Eling: Paultons (h), Hartley Wintney (a), Basingstoke & North Hants (a).
St Cross Symondians: Liphook & Ripsley (a), South Wilts II (h), Fair Oak (a).
