ELWORTH hit rock-bottom once again after a heavy defeat at Stafford.

Despite another solid performance from professional Murray Ranger, that first victory of the season is proving annoyingly elusive.

It never looked on the cards after losing the toss, last Saturday.

Things are going against Elworth at the moment for sure but they'd better break that duck and quickly because seven games in and the blip is threatening to become a struggle.

Openers Kevin Underwood and Matthew Buckley adopted a patient approach in their opening stand of 41 before Martin Brazier's away swing claimed its first victim.

Hoping to build on last week's unbeaten innings of 72, Ranger came to the crease in determined fashion.

But the run-rate remained pedestrian with Buckley struggling to get going and Stafford keeping Ranger off-strike.

As the overs ticked by, the Elworth pro finally began to cash in and eased through to his second consecutive fifty.

But with time running out, a lofted drive to mid-on came up short and he departed for 74, sparking a collapse.

Buckley soon followed for 34 while Dave Palin (10) and Rob Beech (9) both fell trying to up the run rate.

Alex Edmonstone got the message, unleashing a fine cameo innings of 26no to help get them up to 199-5 off 60 overs.

After the oranges, the visitors finally had a sniff when Paul Crompton and Ranger removed both openers to leave Stafford shocked on 13-2.

However it was soon extinguished when Robert James and pro Maduhsan Acharya began peppering the boundary.

Jim Higgins finally broke the match-winning partnership of 126 with James back in the pavilion with 55 to his name.

The veteran spinner also claimed the scalp of Acharya but his fine innings of 84 had taken Stafford to within 19 runs of victory.

Mark Bengry smashed an unbeaten 32 to see them home to a six-wicket victory with 19 balls to spare.

Stafford claimed 20 points to Elworth's seven.

Just to rub it in, Kidsgrove pulled off the shock of the day at league leaders Wood Lane, meaning that Elworth are back on the bottom of NSSC Division One.

A home clash with third-bottom Norton looks vital on Saturday.

Ranger maintained his form with a brilliant 99 in the NSSC Twenty20 Cup on Sunday.

He reached his total by whacking a four off the last ball to help set up victory against Fenton.

After defeat to Porthill Park in their second game, they face a wait to see if they make the next round.