OLD Hill have been plunged into a relegation fight following a points deduction after troubled flared during their game with Fordhouses in June.

Old Hill have slumped to bottom spot in Birmingham and District League Division Two after a disciplinary appeal hearing last week resulted in a 24 point penalty.

Hosts Fordhouses won the contest in question by two-wickets on June 17 but the game was marred by a clash between Old Hill's Nigel Davonport and Pervaiz Akhtar, the father of Fordhouses opener Shoaib Akhtar, after he'd entered the playing surface.

A hearing was held at Halesowen Cricket Club last Friday and heard how a verbal exchange escalated and, according to one of the umpires, resulted in Davonport striking both Akhtar senior and junior.

Davonport will now miss the rest of the season after also being hit by a 10-game ban.

Promotion-chasing Fordhouses, who are due to visit Haden Hill for the reverse fixture on Monday, August 28, were deducted 36 points for their part in the incident.

Old Hill are now 21 points off third-from-bottom side Old Elizabethans heading into the final weeks of the season.

Club chairman Mo Javaid said: "The club is disappointed with the outcome because the incident was brought on by opposition supports rather than us.

"It now puts us in the mire really and we have to fight hard to get out of it.

"As a club we can't do anything about it now and we just want to move on and win as many of the last games as we can.

"We will meet them again in two weeks and we just hope all players and supports can put it behind them and play the game in the right manner.

"Hopefully we can use the points deduction as motivation. We know it's going to be an up hill struggle but we'll make sure we stay positive."

Javaid also backed Davonport after the incident, adding: "As a club we have to support him. He's played in this league for many years and has never been involved in something like this before.

"He's a very respected player and has had lots of support from other clubs and players."

Old Hill's hopes of survival were dealt a further blow with a nine-wicket loss at leaders Oswestry last Saturday.

The visitors were bowled out for just 50 at Morda Road with Duncan Willetts top scoring with 18.

Sadaf Hussain bagged a five-wicket haul for the loss of just 15 runs.

Oswestry made short work of the run chase and reached their target by the 10th over with only opener Warrick Fynn falling to Zahid Kafiat.

Old Hill will look to recover when they host local rivals Halesowen at Haden Hill this Saturday (noon start).