Banstead chairman Steve Woodward has told the club's players to rally round captain Jak Martin as they try and retain their status in the top flight of Surrey cricket.

The side dropped into the Surrey Championship Premier Division relegation zone following a nine wicket defeat at home to high flying Sunbury.

And with tough fixtures still to come against Wimbledon and Reigate Priory it seems difficult for Banstead to move up the table.

But Woodward says it is important the club stay together and try and work through this rough patch.

He said: "Everyone at the club is right behind them and desperate for them to turn this round and get out of it.

"The last two results have certainly been very disappointing but the performances earlier in the season were perhaps better than the results suggested and we need to get back to playing at our best.

"But there are still plenty of reasons to be positive. We've got Matt Spriegel coming back and Mark Houghton is playing very well.

"The limited overs games start up again soon and I think that suits our mentality a little bit more."

Against Sunbury a dismal batting display left Banstead chasing the game as they were bowled out for a below par total all be it on a drying track.

Out of the batsmen only Mark Houghton, who hit a well constructed 74, made any real impression on the scorers.

Skipper Martin, Richard Bedbrook and Adam Clarke all went for ducks while Sam Woodward and wicket-keeper Rory Burns also fell cheaply.

Their main tormenter was first-change Matthew Todd, who took 5-94 and ripped the heart out of the hosts innings.

James Pearce (34) and Phillip Reeves (28) helped give the score some respectability but realistically 170 was never going to be enough.

And so it proved, Sunbury romped home to win by nine wickets.

Opener James Kuiper walked off the field unbeaten on 105 well supported by Adam London who hit 40 not out.

Houghton took the only wicket to fall, having Max Hall caught by Martin for 21.

Woodward said: "Sunbury played very well and it was a great innings from Kuiper. They were a good side but we were still disappointed with the way we played.

"Jak got all the players together at the end and they came out all with the desire of pulling in the same direction.

"When we dropped out of the premier division before we had quite a poor side but we've rebuilt and now have a very talented young team. They just need to convert the potential into results."