BICKLEY PARK's fast-fading title hopes were given another blow on Saturday when they entertained Dartford in the Woolwich Kent Premier cricket league .

The visitors batted first and, helped by half-centuries from Marment and O'Brien, made a respectable, but reachable 172-9.

But Bickley's reply was soon foundering and Stanford's six wicket haul unhinged the home team's top and middle order. They were finally dismissed for a paltry 140.

Bickley will need to win all three remaining fixtures to have any chance of being involved in the championship decision, but with one of those games against fellow titlechasers Sevenoaks Vine, realistically their chance has gone.

Other local Premiership sides in action at the weeekend had mixed fortunes.

Beckenham beat Gore Court by eight wickets, having been set only 95 with Carter taking six wickets, while Bromley, thanks to a fifty from Featherstone, came out on top by four wickets against Folkestone.

Seveboaks, despite Iqbal's brilliant 87 in a total of 174, went down by eight wickets to Tunbridge Wells.

Hayes lost to Blackheath at the Rectory Field after mustering 140-8, a game in which 16-year-old Mark Calnan made his debut for Blackheath.

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