GOATACRE were left in the relegation zone after defeat by fellow strugglers Trowbridge.

Sam Parish was again captain of Goatacre with club skipper Peter Turner stillout injured. Parish won the toss and asked Trowbridge, to bat first.

Openers Oakley and Greatorex scored at a rate of just over 4 per over until Kevin Iles bowled Greatorex with his second ball in the 12th over.

Some tight bowling from the veteran Iles and Rahn Heer saw just 14 more runs added in the following 6 overs before Iles struck again, having Oakley caught behind by Parish for 31. Trowbridge were 66 for 2.

This brought overseas player Cornelius Burger to the crease to join captain Richard Holbrook. They pair cruised along at just under 6 runs per over, each taking advantage of wayward Goatacre bowling to amass a third wicket partnership of 124 runs.

Holbrook was out for 65, bowled by Rahn Heer in the 39th over, and Trowbridge were 186 for 3. Edginton was the next wicket to fall for 9 runs, again bowled by Heer, with the score at 206 after 43 overs.

Teenager Luke Morris, 16, joined Burger and the pair raced into the closing stages at 7 runs per over. Burger was eventually out in the 49th over, bowled by Jif Wilkins for 93. Morris finished with 28 not out, as Trowbridge ended on 270 for 5.

Goatacre openers Steve Lines and Steve Gee, started promisingly reaching 47 runs after 10 overs. Lines (31) played on a delivery from Burger as Goatacre lost their first wicket for 51.

Jif Wilkins and Gee increased the score to 87 before Wilkins was caught at mid-off for 19. Two balls later Kevin Iles was caught behind from the bowling of Burger. Andy Donegan was also caught behind from the bowling of Hickerton and Goatacre were 88 for 4.

Edward Wilkins scored 9 in a 41 run fifth wicket stand with Gee, before he was bowled by Burger in the 31st over.

Adam Iles scored 10 in a 32 run stand with Gee, before he was caught from the bowling of Beel. Goatacre were 161 for 6 after 37 overs. Gee was running out of partners, and Goatacre were running out of time with the required run rate now at more than 8 an over.

Gee was bowled in the 42nd over for 92 with the Goatacre score on 185. Just 6 more runs were added before John Wilkins was caught for 16 and two balls later Sam Parish was caught behind for 2. Matthew Wilkins and Rahn Heer added 17 for the tenth wicket, but Goatacre were well short of the target, having been bowled out for 212.

The loss leaves Goatacre in the relegation zone but their fate is in their own hands. Goatacre face Lydney, Colwall and Dumbleton in the final three matches and wins against fellow strugglers Lydney and Dumbleton should see Goatacre clear of the relegation zone. Trowbridge face the top three sides in their battle to stay up.