MORE frustration for Farnham as, despite fine individual performances from James Berry and Alec Goldsworthy, they lost to high-flying Leatherhead by just one wicket in the Surrey Championship Division One.

Tom Grimes chose to bat on a parched wicket at Fetcham Grove, no doubt hoping it would break up later in the day.

Jamie Strachan and Berry looked composed against the the new ball and Leatherhead quickly turned to spin. Strachan fell to overseas man James Crowson, but Berry and Toby Davies put on 88 in a disciplined partnership.

However, when Crowson got Davies for 41, Berry was left to hold things together. He and Grimes added 40 for the fifth wicket, during which time Berry brought up a superb 100.

With eight overs remaining, Grimes was bowled, the ball rolling back onto the stumps from an attempted sweep, and Farnham collapsed to the spin of Crowson and skipper Adam Dyson, going from 179-5 to 185, Berry being last man out for 107.

Farnham were still in the game on this wicket and made the best possible start when George Osborne had Crowson caught by Strachan at short cover off the first ball of the innings.

Berry trapped Mike Nicol lbw in his first over and Leatherhead were 4-2. Matt Clarke was called up in the 10th over and the spinner promptly had Dyson caught; 39-3.

The next breakthrough proved elusive, with Farnham bowling too many loose deliveries, and a partnership of 55 between Ross Richardson and Oli Trower rallied the home side.

The game changed again as Alec Goldsworthy broke the stand and picked up two more quick wickets to reduce Leatherhead to 150-7. Farnham were pushing for the win, but injured opener Simon Cafferkey walked out at 9 and Leatherhead had two senior batsmen at the crease.

The pair added 28 precious runs, but again, Farnham hit back, Goldsworthy completing a maiden five-wicket haul for the first team and Osborne dismissing Trowler for 77.

At 184-9, either side could have delivered the knockout blow. Jack Gamble delivered it with the winning hit for two.

Farnham, eight points adrift at the bottom, travel to Spencer this Saturday.

• It was a good day for the Goldsworthy family. Peter Goldsworthy took 5-7 and Matt White 4-27 as Farnham III, defending their total of 161, skittled Cheam III out for 36 (3rd XI Div II).