MONTGOMERY fell to an agonising one wicket defeat at Beacon in division one of the Henshalls Shropshire League.

Monty’s openers fell cheaply as Carl Williams caught and bowled Andrew Barker (2) before Charlie Clinton was caught by Yuri Pugh off Chris Cook for two.

Aaron Ruff-Cock and James Corfield (4) formed a 35 run third wicket stand before the latter was caught by Brynley Little off Williams to spark a middle order collapse.

Williams (4-32) dismissed captain Sam Williams and Garth Nevin for ducks while Cook (2-22) celebrated the key wicket of Ruff-Cock to leave Monty wobbling at 50-6.

Patrick Wilding and Rob Bennett offered defiance in a 38 run seventh wicket stand until Wilding departed to Jamie Martindale for 24.

Martindale (2-29) completed his haul with the wicket of Bennett (12) before Matty Cliffe (2-16) polished off Charlie Kinsey (12) led resistance to leave Monty defending 111.

Monty celebrated early success in reply and were reduced to 16-2 as Ed Bennett and Corfield struck early to dislodge openers Steve McMahon (11) and Little (4).

A 34 run third wicket stand between Martindale and Jakob Woodhouse ended when the latter was snared LBW by Harry Wilkinson for 22.

Wilkinson destroyed the middle order with his 4-32 including Martindale, caught by Wilding for 13, before Corfield completed his 2-30 with Joel Bishton caught by Williams for 19 to leave Beacon on 92-7.

Despite Ruff-Cock (1-23) and Bennett (2-30) claiming tail end wickets the hosts were pushed over the line thanks to a last wicket stand between Williams (23no) and Cook (3no).