GOATACRE travelled to Colwall and found a very wet pitch after the rain of the previous week.

Losing the toss and batting they made a sound start with two early boundaries by Matt

Wilkins. However, once the bowlers found their rythme runs became difficult to score.

Both Matt Wilkins, who made 14, and brother Ed fell to Haycroft, but Jif Wilkins and Steve Lines battled hard and took the score to 50 before Lines was adjudged lbw for 14.

Kevin Iles joined Wilkins and they took the score to 90 before Wilkins was caught off a leading edge for 25.

Adam Iles scored 10 and then captain Peter Turner, returning from injury, put together a useful partnership with Kevin Iles before Iles was run out for 35.

Turner followed shortly after for 25 and with John Wilkins falling to a brilliant catch for 10, the innings fell away as three wickets in the last two overs saw Goatacre dismissed for 174 with 2 balls remaining in the 50 overs.

After tea Goatacre made a fine start when Wolfendale was caught by Lines off the bowling of Adam Iles for 0 in the first over.

The prolific Powell was then dropped twice before reaching double figures as fine bowling by Iles and Heer was not backed up by the fielding.

This proved crucial as a partnership with opener Elliott who was also badly dropped saw Colwall creep up to 90 for 1 from 30 overs.

Kevin Iles and Jif Wilkins bowled well with no luck and it was the re-introduction of Adam Iles that saw Elliott caught by Turner for 31.

The bowlers continued to bowl with great heart but were let down by numerous misfields, missed run out chances and a further two dropped catches in the last ten overs.

With Powell mixing sound defence with good attacking shots, he reached 90 and Colwall needed 5 from the final over.

With Kevin Iles bowling a superb over, only 3 runs came from the first 5 balls and any result was possible.

A good last ball was directed straight to short third man and a tie looked likely but another misfield left Colwall jubilant and Goatacre deflated after a 6 wicket win for the home side.

It was an exciting match but one that Goatacre had enough chances to win.

With one more match to play, at home to Dumbleton, Goatacre may have done enough to avoid relegation, after other results went their way.