OLD Southendian & Southchurch captain Aaron Lucas admits his side’s promotion hopes are over after they were beaten by bottom-side Wickford.

The Old Boys put in a wretched batting display against Wickford, making just 100 runs as they capitulated from 55-1 to 100 all out.

The win gives Wickford a real shot in the arm in their survival bid, although they remain bottom of Division Two.

But Lucas says it was a bad day all around.

“It was a bad day at the office,” he said. “We started well but we just batted particularly badly. A run out didn’t help so it was bad throughout in terms of shot selection and we didn’t apply ourselves well enough. 100 was never going to be enough.

“We were very good the previous weekend. We are playing well at home but then go away and are very up and down and that has been hard.

“It is a season where four or five bad ones have cost us going. I think promotion is off the cards now but we have three games, and two at home, to finish well.”

Chris Bunce’s 30 and Sandeep Muraleedharan (28) were the highest scorers for Old Southendian, with Bunce’s run out a potentially key moment in the match.

The middle order folded without contributing and while Sandeep offered brief respite it came too late to prevent them crashing all out in just 33 overs.

Chirag Desai had a terrific time with the ball, taking 4-23 in just six overs, including one maiden.

However, when it came to batting Desai failed and was dismissed for two off four balls.

Dean Etchells (26), Adam Deller (32 not out) and Charlie Phillippe (23) saw Wickford over the line in 25.1 overs and for the loss of four wickets.

The points were shared between Horndon-on-the-Hill and Leigh-on-Sea in a tense clash near the bottom.

Horndon chose to bat first and had Jack Walsh to thank for the lion’s share of their runs, as he hit 87, and James Stitson (44 not out) as they totalled 230-8 in their 50 overs.

Alex Camp’s 4-71 was a superb effort in the Leigh bowling department, with the other wickets shared among the bowlers.

Iain McDonald (42) and Dean Waller (41) were the pick of the Leigh batsmen as they ended on 187-7.

Late contributions from Jonathan Threadgold (20 not out) and Camp (15 not out) proved important in getting Leigh over the line to secure a draw.

The results leave Leigh five points below Hutton although just 13 points above fifth-placed Hainault & Clayhall.

Wickford are just 13 points off safety after their excellent victory against Old Southendian.