TOFT’S place in the Cheshire County League’s top flight next season is still not secure following a heavy eight-wicket defeat away to Neston on Saturday.

Toby Drummond’s side have won only once in the Premier Division since the end of June, leaving them 14 points ahead of second-bottom Macclesfield ahead of a final fixture at home to Timperley this weekend.

They were sent back for 82 at Parkgate after losing the toss.

Australian Morgan Clark, seeking 67 runs to reach 1,000 for the summer, was dismissed for a duck.

Rob Jones (10) hit Chris Finegan for successive fours before he was caught in the deep attempting an ambitious third, and James Drummond (19) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures.

Matt Stewart (4-17) was the pick of the hosts’ bowlers.

Neston cruised to 85-2 in reply by the 13th over, led by Simon Stokes (45no), to soothe any lingering fears they had of being demoted.

Toft’s seconds lost by 125 runs at home to their Neston counterparts in the reverse fixture.

The visitors to Booth’s Park batted first, racking up 227-4, with 14-year-old George Muirhead (3-35) the pick of the home team’s attack.

In reply, Toft appeared in a strong position at 76-1 thanks to opener Chris Drummond (39) and Ewan Williams (22) before the next nine wickets fell for just 26 runs as they collapsed to 102 all out.