Goatacre 148, Lydney 118

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 14th Jul 2005.

GOATACRE captain Sam Parish admitted he is looking to take his side up to Premier Two after a 30-run victory at Lydney on Saturday.

Parish's side have only Swindon ahead of them and could meet them in a winner-takes-all final game.

Parish, who was delighted with the victory, said: "It's at that stage of the season where half of the team are looking and saying, `two more wins and we will stay up' and the other half are saying, `if we keep this form we could win the league.

"It's very tight. Out of the nine other sides in the league we are looking at seven of them first.

"It could be by the time we have played (fellow challengers) Hatherley and Reddings that Swindon are miles ahead or it has all changed round."

Goatacre leapfrogged Hatherley and Reddings despite only posting 148 with the bat, but a superb bowling and fielding display ensured a return to winning ways for the villagers.

After winning the toss and batting Goatacre were in early trouble at 16-2 when Will Jones had Steve Gee and Jif Wilkins caught behind.

Kevin Iles joined Steve Lines and they saw off the new ball before gradually increasing the scoring rate.

They took the score past 100 before Iles was caught and bowled by Paul Morris for a vital 55.

Lines was then bowled by Tony Scott for 45 and the rest of the order failed to build on the platform as they collapsed to 148 all out in the 47th over with Ed Wilkins the only other player to reach double figures.

Goatacre were fired up as they took the field and this showed when Rahn Heer and Jif Wilkins reduced Lydney to 15-3.

First Heer bowled Jon Kear and then Wilkins had Angus Light lbw before bowling Tim Stone with a slower ball.

Will Jones and Adrian Knox started to make inroads into the target but Iles had Jones caught behind and then produced a superb reaction catch off Heer to remove Knox.

Iles also bowled Luke Bishop and Heer trapped Wayne Whitson lbw as the home side found themselves 51-7 after just 17 overs.

Ed Jones and Scott then batted patiently for 20 overs to give their side hope but Wilkins returned to bowl Jones with the score on 85 and then Scott was caught by Matt Wilkins (4-35) in to give Heer (4-31) his fourth wicket.

Wilkins wrapped things up soon after when he had James Bishop caught by Gee as Lydney fell 30 runs short.

Goatacre now play rock bottom Redmarley away on Saturday in a game they should win.

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