MINEHEAD II lost by just one run in a low scoring game away to Broadway and Horton on Saturday, all but ending their pursuit of the Division Three title.

With three games to play, they are now 24 points behind leaders Wells, who would have to slip up badly for Minehead to catch them.

But they remain firmly on course for promotion as runners-up, with a 50-point lead over third-placed Frome II

Bowling first on Saturday, Minehead got off to a superb start with Harry Tudball (1-12 off 9) and Gavin Paviour (2-29) making early in roads then Steve Archer (2-13) and Nick Wilson (4-33) accounting for the majority of the middle and lower order.

Only 40 for J Smith and 34 from J Pike gave any respectability to the Broadway total as they managed to haul their side to 149 all out off 45 overs.

In reply, the visitors’ top order faired little better, and they found themselves three wickets down inside five overs.

Jason Abbott (50) steadied the ship with the help of first Charlie Tudball (19) and then Paviour (21), but the departure of Paviour triggered a flurry of wickets as J Payne (3-33) and A Mason (2-18) gained the upper hand for the home side.

Wilson (11) offered Abbott some assistance and they took the score to within ten runs of victory but after they fell, Harry Tudball was left with the unenviable task of requiring two to win off the final ball of the game.

He was unable to lay bat on ball as his stumps were uprooted, leavinging Broadway and Horton the winners by one run.

Minehead now have two home games in a row, the first being a derby against Kilve tomorrow (Saturday).