SELECTION issues continue to hamper Joe Breet’s Lechlade side as they fell to a five-wicket defeat away to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

A combination of lack of availability and injuries meant that Lechlade travelled to Somerset with a rather makeshift team.

The situation was not improved on the day when overseas player Brad Dial’s tendon injury meant he was unlikely to be able to bat effectively.

On an overcast day, Breet lost the toss and for the second week running was asked to bat on a lively pitch.

They also found themselves facing former Somerset pace bowler Charles Willoughby, who was soon causing Lechlade all sorts of problems.

Paul Godding, promoted to opener in the absence of Miles Hammond, dug in but Willoughby (2-17) removed Benny Ellis for one, and his fellow South African Breet for a first-ball duck.

Shortly before drinks, Godding (33), trying to improve the scoring rate, holed out at mid-off and when Jay Goddard was clean bowled the following over, Lechlade had slumped to 67-6.

Against some steady bowling, second team skipper Charles Offord (39*) and Dial (53*) set about reviving the innings and by the end of the 50 overs, they had taken the score to 174-6.

Tristan Hawkes removed Weston’s young opener in his first over but again, the Lechlade attack lacked real penetration.

Andy Fear completed a good match with an unbeaten 81 and although Luke Sellers, David Novais, Ryan Higgins and Godding all picked up a wicket, they could not apply sufficient pressure on the Weston batsmen and they completed their comfortable victory by a five-wicket margin.