monp1

Green watching out for drop danger

Friday, July 10, 2009, 08:46

ABBOTSKERSWELL skipper Marcus Green has sounded a relegation warning to his side ahead of the meeting with promotion-chasing Exmouth at Two Mile Oak.

The two clubs are side-by-side in the table, but their targets couldn't be more different.

Exmouth (121pts) are hoping to get up and threaten Braunton (150) and Paignton (156) for one of the promotion slots.

Abbots (108pts) are anxiously looking behind them at Chudleigh (65), Brixham (66), South Devon (84) and Barton (106) – and hoping to stay ahead of most of them.

A 43-point cushion between Abbots and the drop zone looks comfortable, but there are mitigation factors.

All the teams below Abbots have to play them again – a chance to make up ground – and on the day Abbots play Barton they will have eight players attending the wedding of batsman Steve Short.

Selection has been of the pick-and-mix variety at Abbots for a while with players seemingly drifting in and out of the team on a regular basis.

Green believes that to be one of the reasons why Abbots are struggling to be consistent on the pitch as they are inconsistent with selection.

"It is hard because players have other priorities at times and I am reluctant to pillage the 2nd XI blind as they are going for promotion in their division," said Green.

"We've had two defeats on the trot against Braunton and Paignton and we go straight into Exmouth, who have a strong line-up even if they haven't had the results they anticipated.

"We need some winning results sooner rather than later, otherwise we could get dragged into the relegation scrap, which we really don't want."

Green's problems continue tomorrow with pace pair Mike Smith and Ian Baker, seamer Ben Passenger, all-rounder James McMahon and keeper Alun Lewis on the absent list.

Green has some juggling to do before settling on his side.
















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