JUST three points separate Redditch from the relegation zone but skipper Dan Protherough believes his players have what it takes to get out of trouble.

The Bromsgrove Road side suffered back-to-back defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend and now face an uphill task if they are to survive the drop.

Redditch crashed to a dismal six-wicket defeat at home to Penkridge on Saturday and then endured a miserable Monday, going down by five wickets at Pershore. Both sides had been below Protherough's team but the wins saw them leap up the table, leaving Redditch in their wake.

"It was a bad weekend at the office," the captain explained. "We did not get enough runs on the board.

"Our bowling and fielding was quite good but the players need to bat with more responsibility and not give their wickets away so cheaply."

Against Penkridge, just three Redditch players managed to reach double figures on their way to 135 all out, Protherough top scoring with 53.

In reply, the visitors needed fewer than 33 overs to reach their target despite the sterling efforts of Guy Muspratt (3-28).

And it was a similar tale on Monday when runs were again hard to come by, Redditch posting a meagre 110-9 from their 55 overs.

Robin Biddle (3-27) performed well with the ball but Pershore strolled to victory with nearly 20 overs in hand.

Redditch face a tricky run-in with three tough games starting with a home clash with promotion-chasers Aston Manor on Saturday.

And they look like again being without influential Aussie Simon Allison as he recovers from the torn muscle in his back that has already kept him out of action for three games.

n Redditch held their President's Day on Sunday, when three Twenty20 games took place involving juniors, current players and former players of the club.

President Dick Biddle said: "The games were all well-fought and close and there was an excellent turnout.''