FARNHAM slipped up again in the promotion race, losing at home to Dulwich as the Surrey Championship returned to the limited-overs format.

The Park wicket looked good and Dulwich made solid progress until Mike O’Mahony came on to have Ed Towner taken sharply in the slips by Tom Andrews.

An electric leg-side stumping by Joel Walker accounted for Ed Stolle soon afterwards (51-2), but Richard King’s stylish 79 off 64 balls made sure of a decent total.

Spinners Chris Terry and Nathan Thorpe bowled well and Andrews and O’Mahony deserved their three wickets apiece, but Dulwich’s late order chipped in usefully and they posted a competitive 222 all out after 50 overs.

Farnham made an awful start. The in-form Thorpe was caught behind without a run on the board and Jim Berry soon followed. When Ciaran Rooney departed, Farnham were 57-4 and Jon Lodwick had taken three wickets.

Skipper Tom Grimes then dropped anchor while George Hellyer batted in his usual unbridled fashion. He raced to a second successive half-century, hitting ten boundaries before being caught behind off spinner Levi Olver.

Grimes followed with no runs added and, at 113-6, things were not looking good for the home side.

The lower order failed to make an impact against a varied attack and Farnham were reeling at 142-9.

Rob Goldsworthy then hung around, allowing Terry to play a mature innings and Farnham edged up to 175 and two batting points before the former Elstead player fell for 34.