Saturday's second consecutive loss knocked them off the top of the table and three teams are less than 30 points behind Bexhill with a game in hand.

Haffenden, Bexhill's captain, said: "We've got a lot of hard work to do now. I still think it's in our hands, but if we play like did on Saturday, we can kiss the league goodbye.

"All the time it's going well, everyone's sweet, but as soon as it starts going a bit bad, batsmen start blaming bowlers and bowlers start blaming batsmen."

Bexhill were bowled out for 135 at home to Lewes Priory, who had earlier rattled up 276-7.

Haffenden continued: "Player for player we're a stronger side (than Lewes), but as a team, they outplayed us. We've got to start pulling together otherwise we're going to struggle."

Chris Topp (3-61), Shaun Austin (2-41), Simon Bulteel and Chris Deeprose were Bexhill's wicket-takers, while Malcolm Johnson conceded only 16 runs from his seven overs.

The hosts never really got started in reply and they were left with the proverbial mountain to climb when Lewes reduced them to 46-6.

There was some light relief when Johnson, who has come on so much this year, played well for 34 and Deeprose struck an explosive 53 from 34 balls containing some proper cricket shots.

But Johnson and Deeprose, who pieced together a seventh wicket stand of 54, were the only two batsmen to reach double figures as Lewes completed the double over Bexhill in resounding style.

"It was a big disappointment because we didn't turn up for the game to be honest," added Haffenden. "We bowled and fielded poorly, and then took it into the batting really.

"The boys are still giving it their all, it's just one of those little periods everyone goes through. We know how well we can play and not producing what we know we can do is very frustrating.

"At the start of the year, everyone enjoyed it and we were doing fine. We've just got to enjoy it a bit more."