CONFIDENCE is sky high at table topping Biddestone, according to captain Kris Boulton.

The Glos/Wilts leaders have barely been off the summit all season, but the skipper has been reluctant to admit his side are title contenders. But after a narrow win over Goatacre on Saturday, Boulton hinted he believes they have a chance.

He said: "We feel confident whether we get 180, 200 or higher because we know we can beat anyone.

"We're confident, but not arrogant, because we still have a job to do.

"You do start to wonder if we can win now. We did not have all the luck on Saturday and I keep losing the toss, I've lost it four or five times on the trot, but it does not seem to affect us."

Goatacre put Biddestone into bat and Clint Bowyer top scored with 72, while Tom Needham hit 40. Tailenders Naeem Khan (22no) and Boulton (19) then added some much needed late runs.

Brad Dawson, brother of ex-Chippenham and now Hampshire all rounder Liam, made his debut for Goatacre, taking 3-49, and came in for special praise from his captain Sam Parish.

He said: "For a 13-year-old to bowl 15 overs is phenomenal and he got two of their dangermen out (Bowyer and Dwaine Perry). They weren't caught on the boundary he got them with proper deliveries which is absolutely superb."

Jonathan Wilkins (3-49) and Rhan Heer (1-46) both performed well to set up a run chase for the visitors.

Wilkins hit 92 before falling to Khan (1-41) and Stephen Gee scored 68 off 69 balls before being caught by Khan off Mark Unwin (1-65) Pete Turner (18) was run out by Boulton but the rest of the side failed to make double figures as Perry (2-74) and Bowyer (1-36) claimed the other wickets.

Goatacre have recently lost a National Village Cup game to Stalbridge by one run and were edged out by six runs at Swindon, but despite another narrow defeat, Parish was upbeat ahead of second place Warminster's visit on Saturday.

"We are happy with how close we got because they are top of the table," he said.

"We have played Swindon and Biddestone so we certainly know we can compete with them and Saturday is another game to test where we are."

Struggling Marshfield travel to Biddestone and Boulton is cautious of underestimating their local rivals.

He said: "When you look at their recent scores you have to be confident but they will be coming at us strong because we beat them last time and it is a derby."

Swindon's title hopes were dented by a dramatic home batting collapse at the County Ground.

The capitulation handed a 12-run win to bitter rivals Warminster, who were docked 10 points earlier this season after Swindon were one of three teams to report them for fielding an inelligible player.

Darren Beasant's men gave themselves the perfect platform, bowling the visitors out for 124 as Roger Willoughby took 4-10.

But replying, John Baden was the top scorer with just 30 as Leigh Beauchamp (3-20) and Matthew Bell (3-30) did the damage.