THIRD-bottom Bradninch saw their safety margin trimmed to four points by a 114-run defeat away to leaders Exeter.

Man of the match for Exeter was Somerset all-rounder Ben Green with 92 in a total of 294 for three and five wickets as the Ninch were dispatched for 180.

Exeter’s top order has been delivering week after week and it was the same again from Green, Alex Barrow (47), Rob Holman (63), Tom Richardson (41no) and Harvey Sargent (33no). Stands of 87, 103, 46 and 58 unbroken tell their own story.

Green took three wickets in five balls and had all four to fall as the Ninch stumbled to 57 for four.

Gary Chappell (63) and Kian Burns (29) restored some semblance of order, but it was only temporary.

Ed Middleton (2-35), Dominic Tuoehy (2-37) and Green with a tail-ender wrapped it up.

Bradninch skipper Chappell was unhappy about some of the twists and turns of the game.

“We dropped Green on 20 and Barrow shouldered arms on 20 that was somehow perceived as not out,” said Chappell

“You can’t afford to give top players a second chance and we got punished.”

Bradninch got to Exmouth on Saturday looking for a win to stay ahead of chasers Sandford.

Said Chappell: “We have two games left and it’s going down to the wire. 

“Fair play to Sandford for their third win and applying the pressure on us.”