STAND-in skipper Simon Beetham called on his Lymington team-mates to show more desire to arrest their recent slide.

Lymo have slumped from top to third-bottom of the Premier Division standings with four defeats in five timed matches – the latest being a six-wicket defeat to Alton.

Scott Henry (36) started well, but ducks for Cameron Grierson and Damien Edwards didn’t help the hosts as they laboured to 102 for seven.

Beetham (50) and Ed Ellis (62) stepped up to the plate with a century partnership but Alton overcame Lymo’s total of 224 thanks to contributions from Ryan Hale (65), Scott Myers (56) and Dewayne Bowden (46).

But bowler Beetham, who has also lined up for Dorset this season, denied that the Southampton Road outfit have suffered from the switch to the longer game and backed his colleagues to overcome their loss of form.

“It has all been a bit disappointing and the past few weeks have not gone as well as we would have hoped,” said Beetham.

“Our batting has not been the strongest side of our game but I wouldn’t say it is down to a lack of confidence. A lot of our lads would back themselves 100 per cent – it is just a lack of form.

“We just seem to be finding ways of getting ourselves out at the moment and I think we need a bit more hunger for the rest of the all day games.

“We need the batters to be desperate to get runs because, with the bit between our teeth, we’re a pretty good side. The lads just need to keep backing themselves and get stuck in.”