RELEGATION awaits Biddestone according to manager Gary Skidmore if they do not improve the form they showed in crashing out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday.

Biddestone looked in control for the first half and were in the lead through midfielder Dean Brookman. But the Wessex division two side stepped up a gear in the second half; they equalised just after the break and won the game with two goals in the last ten minutes.

Skidmore thought that his players have done much better in recent weeks. He said: "We deserved to get beat. If we keep performing like that we will be playing in the Wiltshire league next season.

"We totally switched off in the second half, I told the players that their performance was unsatisfactory."

The first half was well fought out by both teams, but it was Biddestone who managed to head into the lead on 15 minutes. A corner from winger Luke Gullick was headed clear by a defender, the ball dropped at the feet of Brookman, who struck the ball with his left foot and the ball sailed into the top corner.

Biddestone managed to keep Amesbury away from their goal for the first half and almost grabbed a second on 40 minutes with a cross by winger Adam Gainey. Gullick jumped higher than his challenging defender but his powerful header was cleared off the line.

Amesbury came out in the second half and had most of the possession, although they could only muster half chances until the 55th minute. The ball was run down the wing and crossed in by their winger, the Biddestone defenders stood no chance as a tall midfielder rose miles above Ollie Mcanich and headed in the equaliser.

Biddestone then held on by a thread as they struggled to hold off the home side.

They could not keep Amesbury at bay for too long and the home side took the lead on 80 minutes. Amesbury played the long ball into the Biddestone area, it fell to their striker who smacked the ball past keeper Chris Snoddy from 15 yards.

Biddestone did have one opportunity to level the scores on 85 minutes when midfielder Dan Charman drove the ball hard and low, but the home side's keeper just managed to get a fingertip to it and turn it around the post.

Amesbury finished the game on 89 minutes when their striker took the ball down the wing, cut inside and drove the ball into the bottom corner.

Skidmore is demanding to see more from his players in future games. He said: "The players are too relaxed. I have a small squad and there is no competition for places. I will be putting in some seven day requests soon as I need to build on my squad.

"It is good for a player to think that he might get dropped if he does not perform."

Biddestone's next match is at home on Saturday against Shepton Mallet.