WARMINSTER captain Tim Cowley has resigned just days before his team take on Trowbridge in a high profile derby clash.

Opening batsman Mark Coxon-Tenty will skipper the side tomorrow after Cowley opted to call time on his three-year reign at Sambourne Road.

Cowley said he had taken the decision after receiving a number of complaints from players during Saturday's home defeat by Redmarley. Many of these centred on his choice of batting order.

He said: "I've stepped down as captain due to a few things from Saturday. I just think it's time I stepped down and gave someone else a go, but I will still play."

The match saw Warminster surrender their last seven wickets for just 54 runs as they slumped to their second successive defeat. Having built up a good position through Dave Bateman, Trevor Fabian and Sean Maxwell, the final six batsmen scored just 16 between them.

This left visitors Redmarley to secure a comfortable win.

Redmarley captain Alistair Watkins and keeper Stuart Hall put on 118 for the first wicket before Watkins was bowled by Maxwell for 73. Maxwell also removed Hall for 69, but Warminster were unable to capitalise. Instead Chris Bedford (36 not out) took Redmarley to 241-5 from their 50 overs. Maxwell finished with 3-65.

Earlier, the home side recovered from the early loss of Coxon-Tenty to reach 110-1 before Bateman was bowled by Watkins for 61. Fabian (45) and Maxwell (44 not out) both played well, but with little support from the lower order Warminster collapsed to 196 all out.

Cowley said: "We didn't field very well. We let them get 25 or 30 more runs than they should and then we didn't score quickly enough. On the plus side Dave Bateman opened the batting for the first time as did well."