ANDREW SUTTON says he will not be hitting the panic button despite seeing his Barnt Green side slump to a fourth straight Birmingham League Premier Division defeat at the weekend.
The Cherry Hill Road side suffered a 70-run defeat on Saturday to gift county rivals Kidderminster their first win of the season at the sixth attempt.
Green got off to a flying start with the ball as they quickly reduced the visitors to 3-3.
However, skipper Neil Pinner (28) and Nathan Round (43) steadied the ship before George Hatfield chipped in with an unbeaten 59.
James Kinder (22) kept the scoreboard ticking over as Kidderminster were bowled out for 179 with Sutton claiming five wickets for 46 runs from his 14 overs.
In response, disaster struck early doors as Green were reduced to 0-3 after the first over with Edward Pollock, Matthew Lamb and overseas signing James Psarakis all sent back for an early shower.
Despite some resistance from Tom Brown (30) and Jamie Harrison (27), Green were rushed out for 109 in the 37th over with Worcestershire starlet Patrick Brown claiming six wickets for 25 runs.
“When you lose three wickets in the first over you are always going to be against it,” Sutton said.
“There was a bit of fight in the middle order but a couple of bad decisions with the bat cost us.
“Kidderminster had their best side out and Patrick Brown bowled quick and straight to clean us out.
“They thoroughly deserved the victory as they wanted it a whole lot more than us.”
Sutton will be hoping the Green can get out of their losing streak this weekend when they travel to mid-table Walsall.
With Tom Banton and Joshua Poysden expected to return for the game in the Black Country on Saturday, the Green skipper is hoping for better things with the bat.
However, he told the Standard there will be no need to push the panic button just yet.
“We have got to stick together,” Sutton said.
“We may have lost our last four games but we cannot afford to panic.
“Just because we lost does not mean we have become a poor side overnight.
“All we need is some luck to go our way.
“But there needs to be some responsibility with the bat sooner rather than later otherwise we could be in deep trouble.”
