A HEROIC fightback in Cambridgeshire wasn’t enough to prevent Goatacre’s Lord’s dream from dissipating in agonising fashion as they lost their National Village Cup semi-final to Foxton by just five runs today.

A captain’s innings from Ed Wilkins had inspired Goatacre as they looked to emulate their famous 1988 and 1990 cup-winning predecessors by making it to the final at the home of cricket.

But despite battling back to leave themselves needing 15 from the last two overs, and later six from the final ball – all while chasing a target of 246 – it wasn’t to be the Wiltshire side’s day.

Cei Sanderson was the driving force behind Foxton’s innings, with the opener hitting 103 off 90 balls.

Adam Webster (32), Jeffery Douglas (28) and Henry Hunter (24) all contributed whilst Giorgio Rigali, Kevin Iles and Jack Haines all took a pair of wickets each as the hosts posted 245-8.

The Goats’ run-chase didn’t motor in the early stages of their innings, with their first three wickets falling for just 55, But skipper Wilkins came to the fore and smacked 115 from 91 deliveries to give his team hope.

The Goatacre captain was the last of the visitors’ eight wickets to fall, with Toby Horton (44) and tail-ender Rigali (18) also amongst the runs, but time ran out as the latest chapter in the villagers’ love affair with the Village Cup ended in heartbreak.