Bottom side Beckenham’s mathematical chances of remaining in the Kent League Premier Division were dashed on Saturday as they lost to Lordswood.

Beckenham, short of five members of last week’s team, fielded first.

Lordswood openers Bradley Goldsack and skipper Ed Taylor started steadily against Beckenham's opening bowlers Harri Aravinthan and Dave Moody.

But after 10 overs, the young pairing of Fraser Whiteland and James Ronay were brought into action, the former (2-33) getting Goldsack for 38 and Lordswood’s captain for 17 to leave them 70-2.

At the other end, Ronay, bowling with impressive pace, struck with a beauty which Joe Gordon had to play at to give James Balmforth a regulation catch.

That was the last success for the visitors for some time, though, as Linden Lockhart (70) and Jack Laraman (31) started to put together a solid stand.

But Beckenham left-arm spinner Ishan Sabharwal, 4-53, then got among the wickets as Lordswood posted 254-8.

The Beckenham innings suffered an early setback as Rithik Hari was forced to retire injured on six.

But as fellow opener Gethin Roberts was joined by skipper Alexander Senn, a decent stand began to take shape.

Having done all the hard work, however, Roberts suffered a rush of blood and was bowled by Laraman for 23.

Having struck two magnificent sixes, Aravinthan tried to launch Hugh Scott and was trapped in front but, with Ross Piller immediately taking the fight to the opposition with a flurry of boundaries, Beckenham were 140-2 and they looked well set at this stage.

But that was as good as things got as Senn fell one short of a half-century and Beckenham were 167 all out in the 43rd over.

Opening bowler Touseeq Shah (4-27) and Lockhart (3-13) were best with the ball for Lordswood.

At the other end of the table, it’s as you were after frontrunners Minster and second-placed Hayes both won.

Minster piled on the runs on their way to a big victory over fourth-placed Blackheath.

There were half-centuries for Joe Parry (73), Chris Piesley (71), skipper Ed Moore (64) and Greg Lamb (58) in their 356-8. Tejpal Birdi and Mahi Mahfuzul took 2-67 and 2-70, respectively.

In reply, Blackheath could only reach 255 all out in the 48th over, with Parry (3-44) the pick of the Minster bowlers.

Opener George Wells (61) and captain Charlie-Sid Speller (51 not out) both struck half-centuries but it wasn’t enough.

Hayes remain top of the pile after an unbeaten century by Kent's Alex Blake helped them to a 63-run success away to second-bottom Bickley Park.

He hit a 102-ball 132 not out to get them to 277-4 before he did his bit with the ball as well.

Blake finished with 3-31 as the hosts only managed to get to 214-7 despite a run-a-ball 89 from wicketkeeper Safwaan Imitiaz.

Third-placed Bexley beat Sevenoaks Vine by 104 runs.

Batting first, opener Aiden Griggs (58) top-scored as they posted 218-6, James Logan (3-45) best with the ball for Sevenoaks.

Vine captain Luke Schlemmer had been in excellent form but he was run-out for one in their reply and they were 114 all out in the 32nd over, opener Evert Bekker (30) top-scored.

Freddie Foster, with 3-13, was best with the ball for Bexley.

Tunbridge Wells claimed a win over Sandwich Town in the other match in the division.

Ben Dawkins (118) led Tunbridge Wells to 254-6 while Sandwich’s Australian overseas David Grant, 3-45, did well.

Joe McCaffrey (4-21) did best with the ball for Tunbridge Wells as Sandwich were restricted to 125 all out.

Rory Smith top-scored with 26 for Sandwich who are only five points clear of Bickley Park.