EASTNOR chairman Jim Sandford has confirmed that the club will remain in the Worcestershire County League despite suffering their third relegation in a row.

The village outfit have dropped to Division Two after losing a 'winner-takes-all- game against Pedmore.

However, the real reason why Eastnor were relegated was because they received a mammoth 85 point deduction for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season.

"We were really upset with how it happened," said Sandford.

"It only involved one player and one game.

"A player pulled out so he sent another player that the captain didn't know.

"He asked him if he was registered and he said yes.

"Eventually he found out he was registered with Worcester.

"The captain should have taken him off the pitch there and then, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

"The captain was banned for four matches and held his hands up.

"Because of that we lose our place in Division One, but it was a mistake and we took it on the chin.

"We had a meeting on Tuesday and we are going to regroup on October 25 to see what changes will be made.

"But we will definitely still be playing in the Worcestershire League.

"When we started in the Worcestershire League we were in Division Two, so we will be back to where we started."

Knowing that only a win would do against Pedmore, Eastnor batted first and were bowled out for 166.

Star player Waqas Ahmed was again their top scorer, making 61, while Shaid Ahmed and Faisal Khalid made 24 and 19 respectively.

Eastnor put themselves in a great position to win the game when Pedmore were reeling at 26-4.

But a fantastic six-wicket stand between Dan Jones and Dave Skelding saw Pedmore home.

Jones was unbeaten on 70 and Skelding 37 as the Stourbridge based side won by five wickets.

The highest placed Herefordshire team in the Worcestershire league were Burghill, Tillington & Weobley, who finished eighth.

Last Saturday, they lost by seven wickets to Stourport-on-Severn, despite Barney Morgan scoring 42.

Morgan also took two of his side's wickets.

Colwall – who finished one place below Burghill – saw their match at Redditch abandoned.