BRACKNELL’S Matt Ford remains top of the South of England Seniors Tour standings despite slipping to a 2-0 defeat to Didcot cueman Neil Craycraft in the final of the fifth leg of the series.

Ford actually beat Craycraft 2-0 in the group of death which included second-placed John Hunter, from Andover, Wokingham’s Martin Wallace – who reached the semi finals of the Championship Tour event in Fareham two weeks previously – and Aldbourne resident Jon Walker.

In the quarter finals, Ford disposed of Group B runner-up Phil Rose 2-0, before he beat Neil Carroll – making his first semi-final appearance of the season at Jesters Snooker Club, in Swindon – by the same margin.

Craycraft beat John Monckton 2-1 in the other last-four match.

With three tournaments to go, Ford leads group-stage casualty Hunter by 22 points. Dan Hammond is 17 points further back in third.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the sixth leg of eight on Sunday, February 18.