DAVE KENNEDY insists that Northop Hall aren’t ready to press the panic button despite their winless start to the season.

Hall contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last weekend as they were beaten by 18 runs at the hands of visiting Ainsdale.

Defeat left Hall third from bottom in Division One of the Liverpool Competition, just four points above the drop zone.

But director of cricket Kennedy has seen enough from his young side to know that an upturn in results is just around the corner.

“I’m not panicking,” declared Kennedy, pictured. “We are playing okay, but we are showing that little bit of inexperience at the moment.”

Chasing Ainsdale’s 170, in which former Bangladesh Test spinner Enamul Haque claimed 7-54, Hall were 84 for one, and then 151 for six, before being bowled out for 158.

“It was a really disappointing end to the game,” continued Kennedy. “I spoke to their skipper, Marc Debrabander, after we’d finished and he said that they’d ‘burgled’ the game. He said that they’d got away with one.

“We really should be winning the game from the position we found ourselves in. It was there for the taking and that’s frustrating.”

Hall take a break from the rigours of the league tomorrow as they entertain Prestatyn in the Ray Tyler Cup.

Kennedy is looking to mount a challenge for the trophy, saying: “It’s a competition we are targeting because it’s one of the major things we can win.

“It’s open to Division One and Two teams, so there is no reason why we can’t do well in the competition.”

Alex Smith returns for Hall, who are without Ben Slater.