PAIGNTON and Barton could be going in different directions at the end of the season after the former beat the latter by 76 runs in the derby clash at Queens Park.

Dan Wolf creamed 90 off 85 balls as Paignton hoisted 272 for seven in their 50 overs Ollie Higgs chipped in with 58 not out down the order.

Barton were all out for 196 in reply – Mark Gilmour making 66 against one of his former clubs – which dropped them into the trouble spots.

While Paignton were tightening their grip on second place behind promoted Bradninch, helped by Lewdown losing to Budleigh Salterton, Barton have slipped into the bottom two.

Hatherleigh beat Sandford to move past Barton, although the gap is only nine points and with three games left there is time to play their way out of trouble.

Paignton cruised to 111 for two – Connor Bryan (48) and Wolf doing the damage – then came a slump to 116 for five.

Gilmour got Bryan out then Adam Last claimed Chris Kelmere and Rob Shergold in short order.

Wolf was still there though and with Higgs for company put on 69 for the sixth wicket.

Stuart Bowker spun out Wolf, but the runs kept coming with Higgs and Richard Ashworth (25) scoring 67 between them in even time.

Barton had Andy Hele (29) and Gilmour (66) to thank for getting them to 82 four, mostly scored in their stand of 76 for the second wicket

Gilmour and Greg Shelton (27) took the tally to 123 for five

Gilmour’s wicket was the one Paignton wanted and George Yates obliged at 145 or six.

Barton went into a steady decline from them on with Bowker (24no) the last man standing.

Kelmere (3-33) and Yates (3-42) dominated the bowling figures for Paignton, aided and abetted by Connor Ashworth with two for 15 to knock over the tail.

The run in gets steeper for Paignton this Saturday as they have Lewdown (away).

“With Budleigh our final game of the season I can see it going right down to the wire and the last game will probably decide who goes up with Bradnich,” said Paignton captain Richard Ashworth.

“Budleigh definitely have the easier run in and I expect them to beat Ipplepen and Hatherleigh.

“Lewdown are probably just out of the running now, but it would be wrong to write them off.

“It looks like Wessels has lost a bit of form which probably explains why they haven't won in a couple of weeks.  

“The 12 -point gap between us and Budleigh is nice and means even if we only win two out of three we still have a chance of going up.

“A win this weekend would really put us in the driving seat going into the last two games.”