Influential fast bowler Charlie Kearns believes Spalding Town may need to win four of their last six games to stay in the Lincs ECB Premier League.
Town, who are now 39 points points from safety in Lincolnshire’s top tier, are staring down the barrel of relegation back to the South Lincs and Border League.
Last Saturday’s crushing 145-run loss at relegation rivals Grantham (see page 45) has left Spalding in a precarious position – and it doesn’t get any easier for them this Saturday.
Sleaford are the visitors to Spalding Grammar School (noon), fresh off the back of a dominant 10-wicket win over Lincoln Lindum.
Town also face Market Deeping, Skegness, Bourne, Grimsby and Louth in their run-in – with Kearns concerned that he and his side keep finding a way to lose matches.
He said: “It’s been a tough season. I can’t help but look back to the first game of the year against Woodhall Spa.
“If we had caught any one of the four catches we dropped, we would have won the game and it would have been a completely different season.
“Like I have said before winning, and losing, is a habit – and this year we have managed to get in a winning position only to then find a way to lose a game so many times, rather than the other way around.
“There is still a chance we can stay up, but realistically this week is a must-win game. And then we will also have to beat Grimsby, Skegness – and maybe even one more of the other games too. We are more than capable of winning all of the remaining games, but the way the season has gone will make it tough for us.
“It is, however, good to see the likes of Paddy Harrington and Jonny Manton stepping into the team at 14-years-old and not looking out of place.
“There is still a lot to come from those two, and a number of other youngsters in the club, over the next few years.”
