OLD Hill cricketers find themselves right back in the Birmingham League Division One promotion race following their slender 10 run win over Wellington last Saturday, writes Nick Pullen.

With promotion rivals Smethwick and Leamington Spa both suffering surprise losses, Old Hill are now just eight points adrift of runners-up spot with two games to play.

Old Hill chairman Bob Jones declared: "Nobody here was thinking of promotion at the start of the season, so it wouldn't be a disaster if we didn't go up this time.

"We have put a very young side together who will only get better and if we don't go up now, we will be back!

"If we did manage to get promotion, it would be a massive over achievement.

"I'm so pleased with the way the lads have played. They have put 100 per cent into everything.

"Times have changed at Old Hill with most of the players now home grown and they can only improve."

Opinion suggested Old Hill hadn't put enough runs on the board when they batted first against Wellington and found themselves restricted to 195 for nine.

Hamza Ahmed made top score of 44 not out while support came from overseas player Monil Patel with 39 with Dan Brosnan adding 25.

With Lancashire's Toby Lester missing from Old Hill's bowling attack, prospects looked grim when Wellington's former Nottinghamshire player Neil Edwards cut loose to make 73.

But Jimmy Howell hit back for Old Hill by taking four for 60 with his medium pace while Patel picked up three for 27 as Wellington fell short on 185 all out.

Bob Jones admitted: "At one stage, Neil Edwards threatened to take the game away from us, but we stuck to the task."

Old Hill visit Harborne on Saturday and then wrap up the season with a home fixture against already promoted Walsall on September 12.

The Hill will be missing Monil Patel for both games following his return to play in India, but Bob Jones confirmed they would like him back for next season, whichever Birmingham League division they end up in.

Old Hill combined the Wellington game with a fun day which again attracted a huge crowd of between 450 to 500 people.

One of the highlights was a bake-off which attracted an entry of 31 cakes, that were later sold off.

Other events includied a tombola and bouncey castle which all helped to raise in the region of £600 which will go towards club funds.

Bank Holiday Monday's local derby with Himley was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Following the final game with Walsall, the club will be staging a 60's, 70's and 80's themed disco when all are welcome to attend.