AFTER a very encouraging away win at All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Division Two leaders Hartshead Moor, Keighley managed to lose at home to bottom club Brighouse seven days later.

Bidding to make up ground on second place, Keighley were asked to bat, but their opening pair of skipper Andrew Wear and Luke Chapman put on 96 for the first wicket, with Chapman being run out for 32 (four fours).

Wear followed shortly after at 109 for a fine 68 off 85 balls, which included nine fours and a six, but from 141-2, Keighley collapsed to 193 in the 50th over, Travis Nightingale (28) and Nathan Storton (16) being the only other players to make double figures.

None of Brighouse's first four bowlers took wickets, fifth bowler, skipper Sonny Matharu, taking 3-37 and sixth bowler Adil Mehmood taking 4-33, with the other three wickets being run-outs.

Keighley's young bowling attack have had much success so far this season and they had Brighouse on the back foot at 25-2, but Mohammad Abrar (33) took them to 74.

Then the hosts seemed to run out of steam and were unable to break the partnership of Sohail Hussain (75no) and Wajid Hussain (66no), their 120 stand taking Brighouse to an unlikely win in the 44th over.

Nathan Storton (1-35) and vice-captain Matthew Haines (2-38) took the wickets for Keighley

Keighley are at Liversedge this weekend in a game that they simply cannot afford to lose if they want to be in the promotion mix.

Meanwhile, Keighley Seconds' poor run of form continued at Methley in Championship Division One.

Keighley skipper Alan Birkett decided to ask the home team to bat without tossing the coin, and after 17 overs, Keighley were well in the game, having restricted Methley to 39-2 with some good, disciplined line bowling.

However, Josh Neal (77 off just 57 deliveries, including 15 fours and a six), who was well supported by Alex Cree (52), then took the game away from the Keighley attack, with Methley finishing on 208-5 in their 45 overs.

Pick of the Keighley bowlers was spinner Owen Narey, who had figures of 2-46 in 14 overs.

In reply, Keighley's batsmen never got going, losing their first wicket as early as the third over. Wickets then fell at regular intervals, with Keighley being bowled out for a paltry 78 in just 32 overs, with only No 10 Ben Jagger offering any real resistance with a quickfire 20.

Joe Williams (17) and wicket-keeper Dan Murphy (10) were the only other players to reach double figures.

Even though not mathematically down, Keighley now look doomed to dropping into Championship Division Two for next season.