BISHOPS Castle are ‘not fussed’ whether they remain in Shropshire Two next season after an unlucky narrow defeat at promotion-chasing Montgomery confirmed they will finish in the bottom two.

Montgomery got home with three balls to spare but with relegation suspended due to league restructures, Castle must wait to see where they play next season.

Club representative Steve Morris said: “We have had a good run at senior level the last 15 years – we have been in this division since 2003 – and it all goes in cycles.

“We would not be too fussed if we are put a division lower. If we drop down and start winning a few more games, we might have more people wanting to play.”

Availability has been an issue all season for Castle – whose second team folded six weeks into the summer – and they again only had ten players at Montgomery.

Opener Jonathan Price’s 56 and Jack Perry’s 35 helped them post a creditable 145-8 at their second-placed hosts but Montgomery squeezed home in the final over, with Richard Powell (3-39) and Perry (2-18) topping the Castle bowling figures.

In Shropshire Three, meanwhile, mid-table Church Stretton were no match for leaders Hinstock.

Peter Lee (44) and Charlie Reece (22) put on a decent opening partnership but had little support as Stretton were restricted to 129-7. Hinstock cruised home in reply at 133-2 in just 27.2 overs.