WINSLEY captain Kevin Hendy says it’s a disgrace that his side will have to ply their trade in Wiltshire League Division Two next season following their relegation from the West of England Premier League at the weekend.

A final day defeat to Calne condemned The Downs side to finishing bottom of the Wiltshire Division and, because of the restructuring of the leagues, Winsley have been handed a double demotion.

With their first team no longer in WEPL divisions, they have also seen their second XI move into the county structure and placed in Division Seven “I think that it is a disgrace that we are going to have to be playing at a level lower than the teams relegated last year,” Hendy said.

“On top of that our second team are going to be playing in Division Seven next year – how can that be right having a second team five divisions below the firsts?

“But we knew the rules at the start of the season and we just haven’t been good enough – everyone hasn’t performed this year.”

Winsley are likely to place their faith in youth next season as they look to fight their way back up the divisions and into the league they have just vacated.

“This season we have had a squad younger than we have ever had before,” Hendy said.

“We are now going to have to look at the direction we as a club want to go down.

“I think that we will invest solely in the youth set-up to take us back up the divisions.

“But one of the problems we now face is having the second team in Division Seven.

“If we have a squad 18-19 playing capable of playing for the firsts, are the ones that miss going to want to drop down five divisions to play for the seconds?”

Winsley went into the final match of the campaign knowing that they needed a better points tally than Great Bedwyn, who eventually defeated Westbury by 21 runs despite being bowled out for 116, to secure their survival.

Hendy’s side found themselves up against it from the outset as Calne opener James Watson struck 112 as the visitors posted 259-7 from their 50 overs with Nick Gerrish the pick the bowlers with 3-53.

Winsley’s reply got off to a disappointing start with Tom Walker back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Charlie Horton (17) and Alain Hewitt (18) repaired the damage slightly as they shared a second wicket stand of 42, but wickets fell at regular intervals as Winsley were bowled out for 113.

Elsewhere in the division, Trowbridge’s all-rounder Andrea Agathangelou was the star of their eight-wicket win over Devizes.

The 25-year-old, who plays first-class cricket for Leicestershire, picked up 5-16 as the visitors were bowled out for 146, before hitting an unbeaten 64 as the County Ground side reached their target in 38 overs.

Westbury must have thought they were going to end the season in success as Richard Mills claimed 4-14 in bowling out Great Bedwyn for 116.

However, Great Bedwyn quickly set about securing their survival as the visitors lost early wickets in their reply with Richard Bosson (3-43) and Chris Blundy (4-18) did the damage, while Westbury’s number nine Richard Oakley top scored with 26 as they were bowled out for 95.