Goatacre 164, Stroud 166-7 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Goatacre 164, Stroud 166-7

11:33am Friday 4th August 2006 in Wiltshire Sport By Nick Mashiter

GOATACRE captain Sam Parish was disappointed his side threw away the points on Saturday.

It leaves them still facing the threat of relegation after a terrible batting collapse saw them slip to defeat against bottom placed Stroud.

The defeat means Goatacre are one of four teams who will now be fighting it out to remain in the division next season.

Parish moaned: "We threw it away, after cruising at 25 overs and looking like getting 250 or 300 we lost quick wickets.

"We probably bowled or fielded as well as we have done all season and when you lose it is about getting any extra points you can.

"We are concerned because we do not want to leave it until the last game of the season.

"I have seen people saying they need another two wins but I think you will need at least three more wins to be sure of staying up."

Goatacre are now preparing to take on Hatherley and Reddings on Saturday, and Parish has placed real importance on getting a result.

The skipper, boosted by the return of Peter Turner and Adam Iles, said: "We are one win behind where we wanted to be now and will have to go into the game on Saturday needing a win to make up for this.

"Our next two games are against teams we beat at the start of the season so we will be looking for a repeat performance.

"It is dangerous to target games to win because, as we have seen from the weekend, it doesn't always go as you think it might."

Openers Haines (17) and Lines (86) gave the home side a good start the score reaching 52 before Haines was dismissed. Jif Wilkins played the supporting role in a partnership of 52 with Lines before he was caught.

This sparked an astonishing collapse that saw Goatacre plummet to 144-5, before Goatacre lost there last five wickets for six runs An early breakthrough from Wilkins raised hopes of defending the total of 164, but an impressive partnership from Kimber and Bryant gave the visitors the upper hand.

With the score in the 90's two quick wickets from Kevin Iles and a sharp run out by Wilkins again put the match in the balance. However, solid batting from Bell (28) and Mobbs (15) put the match back into Stroud's favour until two wickets from Heer and another for Wilkins raised the pressure once more.

It was not to be for the home side though as Bennyworth (35no) and Frape (8no) saw the visitors to a three-wicket victory in the 47th over.

The 2nd XI boosted their survival hopes with a win at Stroud, thanks to a maiden league century by 17-year-old Toby Horton (106no), and the 3rd XI won against Collingbourne 2nds.