Captain James White was in no mood to make excuses after Minster lost their Shepherd Neame Kent League Division 3 title showdown with Upchurch.

"Everything went wrong for us, we didn’t bat well and we didn’t bowl well," was White’s no- nonsense assessment as his side slumped to a 143-run defeat at Gilbert Hall which has left them 14 points behind the Medway club with only two matches left to play.

Yet at one point Minster, who had dislodged Upchurch from the top of the table the previous weekend, looked on course to achieve a crucial victory when they reduced the visitors to 81-5, and 152-7, batting first.

"We got all of their big names out cheaply," said White. "But then Daniel Parker batted really well and our heads went down in the field."

Parker (72) and Alan Hodder (27) figured in an 87-run stand for the eighth-wicket which enabled Upchurch to reach 250-9 from their 50 overs.

Mike Rees was the pick of the Minster attack, taking 4-48 from his 14 overs.

When Minster replied, wickets fell regularly and they were bowled out for 107 in 28.1 overs.

"I said to the boys during tea that 250 was still easily achievable," added White. "But we lost a few quick wickets and that put the middle order under pressure to keep up with the run rate.

"At that point we could have decided to block out for a draw, but we haven’t got that mentality in our team. We always go for the win, but it just didn’t happen for us on Saturday.

"We beat them at their place, and then to play like that at home was very disappointing. But I said at the start of the season that promotion was our target, and that winning the title would be a bonus.

"If we win our last two games we will go up, and so it’s still in our hands, but I will be looking for a much better performance at Wickham Park on Saturday."