GOATACRE Cricket Club's bid to win their third Npower Village Cup goes national on Sunday.

After winning the Wiltshire/Dorset section they will be entertaining Oxfordshire champions Shipton-under-Wychwood in the first national round of the competition.

There is a massive incentive to win with the overall final being played at Lords.

But Goatacre will have a tough task to beat the reigning champions this weekend.

When Shipton-under-Wychwood visit Goatacre they will bring with them a 25-game unbeaten run that stretches back to April 2002.

They beat Elvaston of Derbyshire in the 2002 final and successfully defended their title in 2003 when they beat Astwood Bank from Worcestershire.

But Goatacre have also enjoyed significant success in the competition and can boast of two Lord's victories in 1988 and 1990.

Man of the match in both of those Goatacre victories was Kevin Iles who is still turning in match winning performances for the Wiltshire/Dorset champions.

Iles is one of only two players who survive from those Lords victories the other being John Wilkins.

The pair can boast over 140 Village Cup games in their Goatacre playing careers.

Club chairman Colin Beattie said: "It is every cricketer's dream to play at the headquarters of cricket at Lords and the excitement is beginning to build not just for the players but also the supporters.

"When we got to Lord's in 1988 many thought it was a once in a lifetime achievement and we were amazed to be back within two years.

"Of course it is too early to talk of a third visit but I am sure that the players may be having some Lords dreams this Saturday night."

Goatacre have played Shipton once before in the competition in 1993 when Shipton won the game with two overs to spare.

The winning team in Sunday's clash play the winners of the game between Cornish champions Werrington and Devon champions Feniton at home on Sunday July 11.

To get to this stage Goatacre beat Winsley by six wickets, Redlynch & Hale by 262 runs, Shrewton by 106 runs and Little Durnford/Fonthill by five wickets.

On their route to the national round one Shipton beat Buscot Park by ten wickets, Chalgrove (conceded), Kidmore End by 39 runs and Kingston Bagpuize by 63 runs.

The Npower Village Cup attracts entries from over 500 villages from across the United Kingdom every year.

Games consist of 40 overs and are held on Sundays. Teams representing rural communities with a population of less than 3,000 are invited to compete in group stages organised on a country wide basis.

The winners of the 32 regional groups enter the national rounds with the final taking place at Lords on Sunday August 22.

Sunday's match at Goatacre Cricket Club starts at 2.30pm.