ASTWOOD Bank are teetering on the brink of an instant return to Division Two after another tough weekend culminated in them losing their relegation battle to Chaddesley Cor-bett.

A win on Monday, following Saturday's losing draw to Pershore, would have seen them breathing down the necks of Chaddesley who sit just outside the relegation zone but defeat meant their rivals pulled 23 points clear in their survival battle with only two games to play.

Now Alex Robinson's side have it all to do to climb out of the drop zone, starting at second placed Pedmore on Saturday (1pm start).

If the Bank can get stay within touch of safety on Saturday, their final league match is at home to doomed Romsley and Hunnington.

"I thought all along we were good enough to stay up but we haven't batted well all season," said the Bank skipper.

"We are lacking experience at this level and have been unable to take advantage from winning posi-tions."

Division Two neighbours Feckenham, who have at various times this season been on the fringes of the promotion race and flirted with relegation did enough to guarantee their safety in a weekend double header.

And Division Three high-fliers Alvechurch secured a return to Division Two after a two year stay in the lower league with a losing draw in a rain-reduced match against lowly Alveley.

With promotion rivals Belbroughton losing to Barnt Green the points were enough to ensure Alvechurch will take the second promotion spot behind champions Hereford City.

The promotion battles in Division Four West and Four Central of the Warwickshire League will go right to the wire on the final day on Saturday.

Wythall's winning draw against Oakfield at the weekend saw them close the gap on leaders Arden Forest to seven points after the leaders suffered a los-ing draw to Knowle Village.

The Silver Street side will be hoping the leaders drop points at lowly Wolvey while they must win at seventh placed Wilclare Fujitsu.

The gap in Four West is even tighter with Five Ways Old Edwardians just one point behind Bridge Trust going into the last match.

Five Ways beat Erdington Court and Bridge Trust beat Handsworth in a nailbiting finish and Old Eds must do the same at home to eighth placed Aston OE on Saturday and hope their rivals drop at least two points at home to seventh placed Erdington.

Cookhill will improve on last season after ensuring they will finish seventh in Division Six of the Worcestershire League.

Bidford's hopes of beat-ing the drop from the Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League suffered a setback with a defeat to Shipston.

Relegation-threatened Elmley Castle found form with a nine wicket win over Stratford Bards but Bidford's better average points score of 1.67 should be enough to keep them up with one match to play.

Exhall and Wixford's fading title hopes were extinguished by a defeat to Overbury as leaders Kineton beat Bretforton by ten wickets.

Alcester beat Stratford IIIs in Division One and Division Five champions Great Alne were awarded a walkover against Harvington.