Goatacre take another step closer to Lord's in the National Village Cup

The villagers’ love affair with the competition - they were champions in 1988 and 1990 and reached the semi final last year - continued as they wrapped up a nine-wicket success at Somerset side Timsbury on Sunday.

It moved Goatacre just three wins away from a trip to Lord’s - a prize they narrowly missed out on last summer when losing to Cambridgeshire side Foxton in the last four.

The club also reached the semi finals in 2012 and have now graced the national stages of the competition in five of the last six years.

But Wilkins admits last season’s disappointment is a huge motivating factor in his side’s progress this time around.

Goatacre must hit the road again in the next round on July 10, where Gloucestershire’s Rockhampton or Welsh side Miskin Manor - whose first attempt to play their last 32 was abandoned last weekend - will await once they have played this weekend.

Wilkins told the Gazette & Herald: “We are feeling confident we are either playing Rockhampton, who we know a lot about because they are in our league or Miskin Manor.

“We are confident that we can beat anyone in the competition.

“Last year we were one game away, it’s a motivation this year we just want to get there and get that day out (in the final) at Lords.”

Goatacre’s bowlers set up Sunday’s triumph at Timsbury, Giorgio Rigali taking 5-17 in nine overs and Jonathan Wilkins 3-8 in just 25 balls as the home side were dismissed for just 80.

The reply saw Kev Iles out for just one, but skipper Wilkins (52 not out) and opener Jack Haines (29 not out) guided the visitors home in under 14 overs.

Wilkins added: “We’re really happy. We wanted to get in the game early and Giorgio managed to get five wickets.

“It was really ruthless to get them all out for 80.

“We lost an early wicket when we started which left us at one for one and we needed to get the runs in early because of the weather, but myself and Jack Haines managed to get them.”