GOATACRE hauled themselves out of the Premier Two relegation zone with a three-wicket win over Thornbury.

Ed Wilkins’ side won the toss and put their opponents, who were the early pace-setters in the division, in to bat first and immediately had Thornbury firmly under the cosh.

Goatacre’s Tendai Maruma and Ross Dixie both claimed three wickets apiece as the visitors toiled, with Daniel Lezar reaching 54 and Chris Budd chipping in with 39.

Thornbury’s Marc Lezar (27) and Danny Slade (22) also contributed but Thornbury were dismissed for 204 midway through the 44th over.

Marc Lezar turned the screw on Wilkins’ men as he took 4-40 but the hosts had more than enough firepower to see them through, Ed Kilbee top-scoring with 73 and Jif Wilkins weighing in with 60 to guide Goatacre to 205-7 early in the 39th over.

Elsewhere, Potterne remain hot on the heels of first-placed Taunton after centurion Luke De Souza fired them to a comfortable win at home to Chard.

The visitors batted first after winning the toss but found themselves under pressure from the off, with Neil Clark’s side accounting for their first four wickets for 50 runs.

Tom Wright (54) and Scott Wells-Burr offered up some stern resistance but Dylan Higgins, Jake Roberts and Ed Young all took a pair of wickets apiece as Chard were skittled for 218 in 47 overs.

Potterne lost Tom Cullen for just nine runs but fellow opener De Souza spearheaded the run chase, smashing 102 from 95 balls to drive his team to a six-wicket victory.

Sahan Wijerathne chipped in with 31 whilst captain Clark made an unbeaten 42 from 25 deliveries to help Potterne to 221-4 in the 33rd over.

In Premier One, Corsham’s game at Bristol fell foul of the weather.