SOMETHING had to give when Swindon visited local rivals Goatacre in the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire League Division One.

And it proved to be the hosts' recent good run as Swindon registered their third win in four outings, thanks to some fine middle order batting and Roger Willoughby's impressive haul of 6-33.

The signs were ominous as Swindon opener Brett Sydney-Smith pulled Pete Turner's first ball for six.

But skipper Turner then had Darren Beasant caught behind by Sam Parish for nought and Rahn Neer's next over, after a succession of wides, accounted for Australian Sydney-Smith.

Andy Staff and John Baden righted the ship, however, with a steady 90-run partnership before Staff was caught by Jif Wilkins off Scott Curwood for 35.

Swindon captain Will Nichols joined Baden and they set about forging a match-winning partnership of 141 as Goatacre wilted in the field.

Baden eventually went for a measured 80 and Nichols for a fluent 83, while Matt Baker and Willoughby blasted 35 from the final four overs to take Swindon to 287-6.

Goatacre suffered an early setback when Tom Fox bowled Curwood in the second over and when Matt Wilkins dragged on a wide one from the same bowler the home side were in trouble at 29-2.

Jif Wilkins joined Steve Gee and, despite Pete Stinchcombe pulling the brakes at one end, the run rate began to rise.

Wilkins was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the finger and left-arm spinner Paul Stoddard then took two vital wickets, having Pete Turner and Kevin Iles both caught, for 10 and 17 respectively.

The introduction of Willoughby pushed the game firmly into Swindon's hands, the tall seamer bowling Gee for 38 and Phil Richardson for a duck as Goatacre slumped to 104-6.

Wilkins returned to join brother Ed and they put together a fighting partnership of 45 before Jif chipped Willoughby to square leg after progressing to 40.

Willoughby quickly cleaned up the tail, taking the last three wickets including that of Ed Wilkins for 20, to finish with excellent figures of 6-33 from 10 overs as Goatacre were dismissed for 175 leaving Swindon victors by 112 runs.

Goatacre 2nd were narrowly defeated by three runs at Marlborough despite a brilliant undefeated last wicket partnership of 50 between Ben Miller (55 not out) and Paul Curtis (14 not out) who couldn't quite carry the team to Marlborough's total of 173.

Goatacre are looking for new scorers and umpires and anyone interested is asked to pop along on a match day.