MISTLEY'S cricketers suffered an all-too-familiar collapse as they slid to a 41-run defeat at Hadleigh.

The sides met in a Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship first division contest on Saturday afternoon.

Having been in strong positions in both innings, the Swans failed to press home their advantage as the hosts - facing defeat for long periods - ended up tasting victory.

Having been inserted by Mistley captain Daniel Goff, Hadleigh were soon in trouble with Dylan Day picking up his first first-team wicket of the season, seeing Callum Morrin caught behind by Graeme Butcher.

The opening overs saw the score tick over steadily but at no great rate before Mistley's spin twins were introduced to put a stranglehold on the innings.

Bruce Leeke and Phil Palmer combined to bowl their full compliment of overs for just 55 runs, taking four wickets in the process to leave the home side in big trouble at 81 for five.

This brought Josh Davey and captain Ben Wallis to the crease, with both having been a major nemesis to Mistley in the past.

This occasion was to be no different as they swung the momentum very much in favour of the hosts with a combination of clean striking and manoeuvring the ball into the now big gaps in the outfield. They fell in fairly quick succession, having reached the 40s, but Daniel Shanks and Kyle Tanner also got stuck in to add 44 in good time to reach 229 for six at tea.

It looked a decent score - one that looked well beyond Hadleigh at the 30-over stage - and it gave them the upper hand as the teams came out for the second innings.

Immediately the momentum shifted once more, with Swans skipper Goff leading from the front as he blazed 19 from the first over and raced to 50 in no time.

Stuart Baker, on his debut, was happy playing second fiddle at the other end and it appeared that all was set for a routine run chase.

However, much to everyone's surprise, Goff was caught behind off leg-spinner Cameron Stace for 68 from just 57 balls.

And, as has often been the case already this season, wickets tumbled soon after.

From a very healthy 97 for one, well ahead of the required run rate, things turned quickly with new batsmen arriving at regular intervals.

Baker was bogged down in the middle overs and bowled for 31, with only Butcher (24) making any other sort of contribution.

Thomas Piddington ripped the heart out of the middle order with four for 27 while Wallis and Tanner were economical, applying scoreboard pressure which at one stage seemed unthinkable.

The inevitable was on the cards for several overs before the conclusion of the innings, which ended at 188 for nine.

Hadleigh, as in previous seasons, really upped their game as they sensed victory might be achievable and Mistley were unable to halt the slide once it started.

It was another disappointing day for the Swans, which sees them languishing in the bottom two heading into tomorrow's home match against Coggeshall.