SKIPPER Alex Senneck says he cannot feel too downbeat after Westbury saw their unbeaten start to the Premier Two Glos/Wilts season ended at the weekend – their first loss in a year.

Westbury, who were crowned WEPL Wiltshire champions last summer, were unable to prevent Cheltenham from extending their perfect record this term as they went down by 34 runs away from home, the first time they have lost since June 9 last year.

“It’s disappointing because we missed a chance to beat the league leaders but we need a sense of perspective and it’s our first loss since last June,” said Senneck, who side now host Biddestone.

“We now want to go into the next game and get back to winning ways as losing can become a habit.

“Bearing in mind we’re in a new division, if after five weeks you’d offered us three wins and one defeat, we’d certainly have taken that.”

Westbury’s day got off to a difficult start as a blown tyre on their minibus meant they arrived later than planned at Cheltenham and they were then stuck out on the field as the hosts opted to bat.

Michael Kelly (56) and Peter Woodland (50) both made half-centuries as Cheltenham posted 239-8.

Westbury were on the back foot as soon as their reply got under way, with openers James Hudson and Ben Whiting scoring just two runs off the bat between them.

Liam Walker (4-28) reaped havoc and just 51 runs had been scored when number seven Senneck came to the crease and his side’s fortunes plummeted further when they fell to 92-7.

However, the Westbury skipper offered some resistance with a battling 52 but once he departed, his side’s chances went too as the visitors subsided to 205 all out.

“We just didn’t bat well enough,” said Senneck.

“We thought we’d done well to keep them to 239 and if we could bat as well as we can, we thought we’d have a good chance of getting close.

“Unfortunately, we ended up at 90-7 and from there, we were behind the curtain.”