THERE was no miracle working from Braunton as defeat to Paignton confirmed their relegation from the Francis Clark Devon League premier division.

When Mark Lathwell retired from cricket earlier this month, he said that if his Braunton team-mates stayed up "it would be some miracle".

And as has seemed likely for the last couple of months, the task of staying in the top flight proved too much for last season's A division champions.

While there have been more encouraging performances in the second half of the season, they have won only once since May 22.

Jon Baglow, the Braunton captain, said: "We delayed the inevitable as long as we could.

"In the second half of the season we were more competitive and our performances improved.

"But we have played 17 games and are bottom of the league — that doesn't lie."

Baglow is determined that Braunton will mount another promotion challenge next summer and hopes the current squad will go along for the ride.

"Maybe this season we had one or two who aren't really worried what level they play at," he said.

"If they don't want to play at that level, they're better off not being around.

"If enough want to play in the premier division, that's who we will stick with and we will aim to get back there.

"The players I have spoken to still feel they have something to offer in the premier division, the club wants to have a premier division team and I certainly want to play in a premier division team.

"If there are not enough who want to play at that level, I won't do it. I still want to play the best cricket I can."

The performances of teenagers Harry Booker and Barney Huxtable have been the highlights for Braunton this season, and Booker, the off spinner, took one for 17 on a wet pitch at Paignton in match reduced to 30 overs a side because of rain.

Jason Hayes, his fellow spinner, took two for ten but the damage had already been done by Seb Benton (57) and Bradley Rasool (23) as Paignton passed Braunton's 105 to win by seven wickets.

Mike Pedley and George Yates had reduced Braunton to 45 for six. The visitors were grateful for a seventh-wicket stand of 25 between Ian Roberts (29) and Alec Hodges (14no).

Braunton's season finishes on Saturday with a home game against Bovey Tracey.

"We owe the club a little bit and want to go out on a high and forget about what's happened," said Baglow, who will allow the promotion-chasing second XI to select a handful of first-teamers.

"It's important because there has been such a gap between the first and second team.

"If they go up we will both be in the A division (of their respective leagues) and it will not be such a big step."

A win at Chudleigh would see the seconds replace their hosts at the top of the table. They would need seven points from a draw or defeat to hold off the challenge of Heathcoat for second place.