SLOUGH captain Bobby Sher warned his side that if they continue to produce what they did in their opening day defeat, they will get relegated again.

The Upton Court Park side lost out at promoted Harefield in a low scoring encounter which they should have won.

Harefield were skittled out for 143 and then Slough were cruising at 53-2 and 133-7 with victory within their grasp but still threw it away to lose by nine runs.

"To be honest they weren't a very good side and still beat us so what does that make us," remarked Sher.

"You can do all the talking you want but if you go out there and perform like we did then you will end up in the TVL (Thames Valley Cricket League).

"Hopefully this will be the size 20 up the backside that the lads need." Having been title contenders in the top flight of the Home Counties Premier League, Slough went down last year without a league win to their name and started in a similar manner.

Iklaq Nawaz opened in style for Slough and claimed 2-25 before Sher took over with his 5-32 as Harefield were bowled out for 143 with Shaan Khan taking the other two wickets.

The visitors got off to a poor start as Khan ran himself out cheaply before Buckinghamshire batsman Fahim Qureshi got a harsh leg before decision but Lakmal Kasthuri and Sher (23) rebuilt the innings to take Slough past the 50 mark.

However, Sher left a straight one and was bowled by Doug King who proved to be their chief tormentor, taking 6-28.

Slough then wobbled and were 79-7 before Vishal Aeri (30) and Jamil Faruq (21) appeared to have steadied the ship and put them on course for the win.

But with just 11 runs required for victory and with three wickets in hand and 12 overs to go, Slough managed to shoot themselves in the foot and lose their last three wickets for one run.

"It was quite a good show in the field, we bowled them out for 143 but unfortunately it was the same old story, we just couldn't seem to get the win and collapsed having put ourselves in a position to get the runs," admitted Sher.

"We bowled okay, dropped a catch and had a few bad decisions but that doesn't excuse the way we batted.

"The boys know we way under-performed.

"It would have been good to start with a win but hopefully that will be the kick up the backside we need. They were poor and a side we should have beaten." Next up for Slough tomorrow is a home match with Gerrards Cross and Sher wants a response which will probably be without Pakistani ace Mohammed Talha as the fast bowler is likely to stay with his country's training camp to boost his international hopes.

Sher said: "We need a massive response this week. It doesn't look like our overseas player will be coming so we have to do it ourselves.

"We've got to show our character but we haven't done that for a few years. We will see what the boys are made of.

"If they can start producing the goods then there is no reason why we cant challenge for the league but at this rate we will be relegated. I said after five games we will see where we are and we have to start now."