Skipper Tom Chapman admits Sandwich Town’s players are well aware of the significance of their next match.

Sandwich are 12 points adrift in the Kent League Premier Division, having been beaten in a rain-reduced home game by Hayes last weekend.

They are 15 points from safety but are set to host third-bottom Bickley Park this Saturday.

Chapman said: “It’s a huge game, we all know that.

“They have had mixed results, as well, and they’re down near us.

“Hopefully, we can put everything together - all the good bits from the last three or four weeks - and get another win.”

With the game reduced to a 30-over match, Hayes ran out 52-run victors against Town.

“The weather was always going to be a pain at the weekend,” reflected Chapman.

“We thought, after the last one (losing a rain-restricted match at St Lawrence & Highland Court a fortnight earlier), chasing was probably better because we would know what we were going for.

“But we probably gave them 20 or 30 too many runs."

Hayes reached 202-4 despite Harry Bee’s 2-32.

Chapman conceded: “We were just a little bit off it with the ball.

"It’s probably the first time I can say that this year.”

While Sandwich were restricted to 150-6, Rory Smith again top scored with 59, as they picked up five losing bonus points.

Sandwich are set to play Championship clubs Folkestone and Whitstable at The Butts ground in the KCL Twenty20 Cup this Sunday after their match against Bickley Park.

Chapman said: “Over the last few years, we have played quite well in the T20s.

“It gives us a bit of a break from the 50-over competition.

"We have got two games and, hopefully, we can get two good results and progress.”

Sandwich Town 2nds’ weekend Division 4 match at Chislehurst & West Kent 1sts was abandoned with the hosts 55-3, Jared Southgate (3-15) taking all the wickets.