SKIPPER Andy Sutton accepts his Barnt Green side are now in the thick of a relegation dog-fight as they battle to secure their Birmingham League Premier Division status.

A five wicket defeat to Kenilworth Wardens has seen the Green slip back into the relegation drop zone.

But the Green's situation becomes considerably more serious as they now face four of the top five sides in their forthcoming fixtures, starting this Saturday when they host high flying West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Sutton admitted: "The game against Wardens seemed to sum up our season so far."

Sutton and opening partner Jamie Harrison put on 60 runs before suffering a minor collapse, which included the loss of Warwickshire's Matt Lamb who was run out for nine.

Sutton said: "We had to readjust for a while. As a result a total of 178 all out just wasn't enough. We let ourselves down with the bat and the inconsistency is the reason why we're in trouble."

Sutton went onto score 49 following Harrison's departure for 33, but only Ethan Holmes on 31 provided any further worthwhile score as the Green fell victims to the combined left arm spin of Matt Hancock who took four for 40 while skipper Mark Pidgeon picked up three for 28.

But the Green's problems struck before play even commenced when opening bowler and Worcester Academy player Zain Ul Hussan suffered a back spasm, which effectively reduced the side to 10 men.

Sutton added: "Zain was unable to bowl and we had to hide him in the field, which wasn't ideal."

Despite Zain's absence from the attack, the Green made a promising response with the ball and had Wardens on the ropes at 45 for four.

The match turned on a fifth wicket partnership of 129 between Wardens overseas player Prerak Mankad and Harry Johnson.

Mankad made 82 while Johnson remained unbeaten on 48 not out as Wardens romped to a winning180 for five inside 36 overs.

Sutton did his best to halt Wardens' progress by taking three for 37 but confessed: "Wardens showed us how to play the middle overs. I honestly thought the batting would be their weak point. If we could have taken one more wicket earlier, I felt we could have put them under pressure, because I didn't think there was a great deal of batting to come.

"Life doesn't get any easier now and I'm looking for people to step up to the plate. We've got games against Knowle and Dorridge, Shrewsbury and then Berkswell following the Dartmouth game and it's vital that we remain within contact of the teams directly above us."