JUST past the halfway point of the season and Farnham have a mighty task ahead of them if they to avoid relegation back to Division Two of the Surrey Championship.

Saturday’s emphatic defeat at Spencer leaves Tom Grimes’ side 30 points adrift at the bottom of the table. With the second team rooted to the foot of the 2nd XI Premier, Farnham, who started the season with such high hopes, are facing an ‘annus horribilis’, despite the respectable showing of the 3rd XI and the continuing health of the youth section.

Inserted on a hot and dry day in SW18, Farnham quickly lost Guy Hicks and continued to struggle, with the new ball darting about off the surface. Nathan Thorpe and Toby Davies fought hard and punished the occasional loose delivery in a partnership of 43. But after getting themselves in, both fell to Mike Edwards in consecutive overs, and it was suddenly 52-3.

Off-spinner Gus Grant brought himself on and had immediate success, with the ball biting and turning on the dusty surface. Wickets fell and although James Berry held firm, Farnham were in dire trouble at 62-5.

Berry continue to resist after lunch, but Grant made short work of the other batsmen. Berry was finally ninth man out for 25 and Farnham were dismissed for 101 after 45 overs. Grant the destroyer finished with 6-28 in 17 overs, Edwards having done the early damage with 3-26 in 11.

Farnham needed early wickets to have any sort of chance, but Spencer decided to attack the new ball and their tactics paid off as Luke Billingham and James Hendrickson raced to 42 before first-change Thorpe bowled Billingham for a quickfire 34.

The ball was still turning and, with one run added, Thorpe trapped Hendrickson in front.

Farnham, still in the game, continued to force chances and Spencer were 63-3 when Alec Goldsworthy caught and bowled Saqib Malik. But Krishna Sivakumuran continued to play positively, sweeping skilfully, and his 39-ball 41 and unbroken partnership with Archie Macpherson saw his side to a seven-wicket victory in the 24th over.

The next three games are likely to define Farnham’s season. This Saturday, they visit Chipstead, one place above them in the league table.

In the 2nd XI match at the Park, Farnham II were rescued by their tailenders after Spencer II had reduced them to 81-7 and then 102-8.

Saaj Patel (42 not out) and Chris Terry (35 not out) shared a valiant ninth-wicket partnership of 64 and Farnham were able to post 166-8 in 55 overs.

Spencer made batting look easy in reply. Openers Amartya Kaul (45) and James Smith put on 93 and then skipper Smith cut loose, accelerating to 96 not out as the visitors won by seven wickets in 36 overs.

• Farnham III conceded the local derby against Guildford III.