Whitchurch’s first Shropshire Premier Division win of the season was fired by a ‘good old fashioned’ team talk, according to the club’s chairman.

Iain Marsh revealed that the Heath Road committee sat down with the players and skipper Daniel Bowen to underline their view that the season’s start was below par.

But after Whitchurch snuck home with a two-wicket win at St Georges, Marsh says the message is to go out this Bank Holiday weekend and make it two more wins.

“After the Newport game, we had a chat with the players and the captain and they were told it wasn’t up to standard,” he said.

“It wasn’t quite reading them the riot act but they were told it wasn’t good enough.

“The spark of recovery came on Thursday against Allscott Heath in the Shropshire 20/20 knockout.

“We made it clear that a lack of availability needed a good excuse meaning we could pick our best team.

“We needed that as I think we’ve been a bit undercooked but this was much better – it helped that we were able to play Evelyn Jones and she finished 35 not out alongside Elliott Bowen, who was 72 not out.

“But we know that one games doesn’t start a recovery. We have to push on now and we have a huge weekend of cricket coming up with a Bank Holiday double header.

“There’s a chance for 48 points and if we get them, then it will fire us up this league. We knew it was always going to be tough – look at Wellington below us.

“They were two divisions above us in the Birmingham League and Ludlow are bottom. Three former Birmingham League teams are in the bottom four, so we know it’s going to be tough.”

On Saturday, the first XI host Allscott Heath again in the league at 12pm while on Monday, they travel to Much Wenlock.