WARMINSTER’S chances of beating the drop in Premier Two Glos/Wilts suffered another blow on Saturday as they were beaten at home by Goatacre.

Tom Davie’s men remain bottom of the division after slumping to their third defeat on the spin, this time losing by 46 runs at the hands of their county rivals.

Warminster put the Goats in to bat first after winning the toss and made a handful of early breakthroughs, with Rory Cullinan, who went on to record figures of 4-33, removing openers Kevin Iles and Jif Wilkins for just 15 runs.

However, Jack Haines (30) and Ed Wilkins (29) found their range for the visitors, and then Rob Murphy fell just a run short of his half-century as he top-scored with a knock of 49.

But the home side’s Graham Cuthbertson and Vaughn Browne also claimed a pair of wickets each as they attempted to turn the screw on Goatacre, who posted 213-9.

However, despite a reasonable target to chase down, Warminster struggled with the bat and went on to fall well short.

Jack Berrisford stuck around early on and anchored the hosts’ efforts with a knock of 54, with Warminster at 131-3 when their opener fell.

But only Mark Coxon-Tenty (26) and Jamaine Bullen (36) managed to provide any other significant totals as Davie’s men gave up their wickets with ease from there on, with all eight remaining batsmen failing to reach double figures.

The visitors’ Haines was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-31 and Warminster were skittled for 167 early in the 46th over.

Davie's side, who next face a trip to Thornbury, are 17 points adrift of ninth place.