IT was another disappointing weekend for captain Chris Berry after his Radcliffe side crashed to a surprise defeat at home to second-from-bottom Werneth.

The one-time league leaders, who voted to join the Greater Manchester Cricket League at an EGM on Monday, were missing a number of first team regulars as they slipped to fifth place in the Central Lancashire League following their third Championship defeat on the bounce.

And despite the Homer Street men having played a game less than many of the teams around them, the skipper admitted his side now face an uphill task to win the title after falling 19 points behind leaders Crompton.

"I'm not saying the league title is totally out of the question but I think realistically we are now looking to finish in the top two rather than winning it," he said.

After seeing his side's latest dip in form, Berry was again left to rue poor fielding and irrational batting with only professional Raheel Majeed taking responsibility with the bat and ball.

"I'm disappointed with how we are playing as a unit at the moment," he said.

"We just don't seem to be clicking and we are losing to teams we really shouldn't be losing to.

"The fielding let us down again. We dropped a couple of catches and although we had them 75-5 they ended up getting 201 all out.

"When it came to the batting it was the same story as in recent weeks with stupid and rash shots costing us wickets.

"We've got a strong batting top order and really need to be applying ourselves a lot better than we are.

"Batting wise we should be chasing down scores but we are choosing the wrong shots and throwing our wickets away.

"We had a third teamer, second teamer and a junior in the lower batting order against Werneth and they were being put under unnecessary pressure.

"It's annoying and it's something we need to put right against Milnrow this week."

Professional Ali Muzaffar top-scored with 47 and opener Andrew Walker hit 33 as Werneth set a target of 201.

Fiaz Khan (26) and Darren Longden (24) also chipped as the visitors ran out 80-run winners.

Majeed was the pick of the Radcliffe bowlers taking 3-43 from his eight overs with both Saif Ur Rehman and Anwar Ul Haq claiming two apiece.

The Radcliffe professional also led with the bat top scoring with 40 from 36 balls as Radcliffe attempted to chase down the target.

But Muzaffar ripped through the Radcliffe batting order taking 6-42 including six maidens from his 16.1 overs.

Only Charlie Hamilton (13), Daniel Farley (18), Ur Rehman (18) and Berry (12) hit double figures for the hosts were bowled out for 121.

The Homer Street men travel to Walsden in the quarter finals of the Twenty/20 competition tomorrow night before playing sixth-placed Milnrow on Saturday in what Berry claims will be a 'tricky' game.

"They are a good side and they are blooding in a few young players.

"They've picked up a couple of good wins recently and their pro is due a big score so it will be a tricky."