CORSHAM skipper Tom Foley was encouraged by his side’s performance against table-topping Cheltenham, which ended in a narrow one-wicket loss.

Despite the hosts reaching their target of 246 with only two balls remaining, denying what would have been an invaluable win for Foley’s troops, the result has left Corsham just a point behind third-placed Burbage with two games to go.

While Saturday’s loss ended any hopes of earning an unlikely league success, Foley has readjusted his side’s target to finish in the top three – meaning two wins from their final two fixtures are required.

He said: “It was a good game between two good sides.

“We batted well and got up to 250, but they chased our score down really well.

“They played the ball deep and their captain did enough to see them through in the end.

“We bowled really well, at the end things like that can happen.

“It only takes one player to bat themselves in and it can change the game.”

Though Corsham could only secure nine points from a performance that arguably merited more, wicketkeeper Charley Reed experienced another weekend to remember.

Reed registered his second successive century when posting an unbeaten 110 from 137 balls, he received strong support from Sam Collier (48) while Martin (11) Roberts and Richard Foley (27*) were the only other two to hit double figures.

With a trip to Biddestone and a home tie against Dumbleton set to round off the season, skipper Foley has every confidence in his side’s ability to close out the season in positive style.

“It’s great to see how well Charley is playing, that’s two weeks in a row that he’s scored a century now,” he said.

“He’s away next week because he’s got to play in the South-West Super Four tournament.

“But he’s in good form which is obviously very good for us.

“To finish third would be nice but we’ll see how things work.

“We’ve got two games left, in the ideal world we will win both of those games. But you can’t promise anything in this league, it’s very competitive.”

Elsewhere in Prem Two Glos/Wilts, Biddestone’s hopes of finishing in the top half of the division took a hit after they suffered a 111-run loss at Burbage – who consequently launched themselves into a top three spot.

Burbage made a disastrous start when opener Duncan Lorrain was run-out in the first over following James Bartlett’s direct hit.

David Hope (28) and Henry Cooper (89) restored parity for the hosts as they totalled 219 all out from 38.3 overs.

Biddestone’s reply was halted by Henry Cooper’s bowling, who returned with a five-wicket haul having conceded 22 runs.