CRADLEY boss Will Pottinger conceded his side were simply not good enough as they went down 57-31 to local rivals Birmingham at Perry Barr.

The Motor Market Heathens never recovered from a nightmare start and were unable to add to their National League points tally on a frustrating night.

Skipper Tom Perry struck a hard-fought 10 point haul against his former club but received little support.

They were second best all evening against a strong all-around Brummies’ side – and a furious Pottinger admitted they need to rapidly improve if they are to get their play-off bid back on track.

“I’m very disappointed, and even embarrassed with the final scoreline,” Pottinger said. “We didn’t start the meeting well and we were playing catch-up from then onwards.

“It’s very disappointing and we’ve got to take stock of things, because the way things are going we’re going to fall short of the play-offs.

“We need to pick our game up. The riders we’ve got in the team are much more capable than what they’ve shown tonight, but that performance just wasn’t good enough.

“In a local derby you want to put in a good performance and we certainly didn’t, so we’re bitterly disappointed.”

Danny Ayres endured a night to forget, falling in heat one and shedding chains in heats 13 and 15 before thankfully walking away from an awkward tumble in the final race.

Dan Greenwood ended his night with one of just four Cradley race wins in heat 12, but he struggled to make a major impact alongside Luke Harris in the engine room of the side.

Reserve Conor Dwyer also experienced a tough night, whilst Joe Lawlor failed to defeat an opposing rider and Shelby Rutherford endured a torrid evening plagued by bike problems.

The Heathens will be back in action at Perry Barr tomorrow night (7.30pm) as they host Plymouth in a must-win clash.

BIRMINGHAM 57: Liam Carr 13+1, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 12+1, Taylor Hampshire 12+1, Tom Bacon 9+1, Layne Cupitt 6+2, David Mason 4+3, Kyle Roberts 1.

CRADLEY 31: Tom Perry 10, Dan Greenwood 7+1, Danny Ayres 5, Conor Dwyer 4+1, Luke Harris 4+1, Joe Lawlor 1, Shelby Rutherford 0.