LECHLADE captain Freddie Martin believes it is just ‘fine margins’ that is separating them and the top sides in Premier One.

The Manor Ground outfit got their season under way with victory over fellow top-flight newcomers Bedminster last weekend.

However, the Premier Two Glos/Wilts champions were given a true test of their credentials on Saturday when they headed to a Corsham side who narrowly missed out on the title last term.

And while Lechlade fell short in their chase by 52 runs, Martin felt that his side were able to compete with the Station Road men.

“I think the two sides were quite evenly matched,” the skipper said. “The main difference for us was that we dropped their opener (Remano Esau) on 14 and he went on to score a century.

“You have to take your catches, but I think it is just a matter of fine margins.”

With Esau given an early reprieve, the South African went on to score 103 off 106 balls, hitting 11 fours and two sixes in the process, before being trapped LBW by Tom Young.

Corsham eventually closed on 284-6, with Steve Bullen scoring 70, skipper Ashur Morrison adding a run-a-ball 48 and former Swindon batsman Jon Sore blasting 22 off just nine balls.

Liam Smith was the pick of the Lechlade bowlers with 3-45 from nine overs, while former Worcestershire academy paceman Chris Harwood picked up two wickets for a cost of 102 runs from nine overs.

“Chris has settled in well, he is great to have around the club,” added Martin, who attended Malvern College alongside his strike bowler.

“What he found difficult on Saturday was that he was bowling at the death where they had wickets in hand to go after our bowling.”

In reply, Lechlade never really got up with the run-rate set by Corsham and their reply was led by a 46-ball 60 from number nine batman Jock Jamieson-Black, while Benny Ellis chipped in with 46, as the visitors were dismissed for 232.