GRAPPENHALL look destined for the drop after defeat at Macclesfield in the Cheshire County League top flight.

This now leaves them in a near impossible position to avoid relegation with just four matches left to play.

Grappenhall chose to field on winning the toss and reached 57 before Alex Matthews broke the opening partnership.

Prior to that Sam Guest had bowled an economical 10-over spell without reward, and Ian Hall 14 overs and as he tired he went for a few.

Gaz Burns took the next two wickets, at which stage Macc were 150 for 3.

The introduction of Albert Pennington`s off spin, his first senior bowl of the year, then really slowed Macclesfield up, and he finished up with the fine figures of 5 for 40 off 12.5 overs, and Burns in taking another wicket finished with a 3 for 59 return.

So set a target of 217 there must have been optimism that Grappers could chase just a par target down.

In reply, Grappenhall got off to a disastrous start losing their first wicket with no score on the board.

However, Jimmy McCoy had other ideas as he flayed the bowling in his own belligerent style, but fell with the score at 52, of which he had contributed 37.

Meanwhile Adam Roylance was batting patiently though Pennington for once failed to make it 54 for 3.

Richard Green joined Roylance, and the two batting sensibly put on a further 82 before Roylance miscued one and went for a very well compiled 54.

Richard fell soon after for a solid 40, and Grappers were now 138 for 5.

With 16 overs to go and an asking rate of five an over, a win was still on the cards, but with the exception of Warwick Abrahim with 13, no one else reached double figures, as the mid/ late order was blown away.

172 all out with just over nine overs of the match remaining.

This leaves Grappenhall in a perilous position just a point separating them from the bottom side and some 45 points behind third bottom place and possible safety.