GOATACRE were back at their best on Saturday with a great all round team performance securing a comfortable four-wicket win over Trowbridge.

Goatacre won the toss and invited Trowbridge to bat first in the overcast and humid conditions.

Richard Greatorex struck 10 runs in the first over for Trowbridge, but Goatacre opening bowler Scott Curwood and change bowler Rhan Heer made best use of the conditions from that point to ensure the run rate was kept at 3 an over for the first ten overs.

A second change of bowling brought the first wicket for Goatacre. Greatorex (24) was brilliantly caught by a diving Gee from the bowling of Rob Turner in the 12th over with the score on 37.

Trowbridge continued to be frustrated by the tight line and length of the Goatacre bowlers and by the excellent support from the fielders.

Although Trowbridge continued at a rate of 3 an over, wickets fell at regular intervals and after 35 overs they were 106 for 5.

An excellent 6th wicket stand of 50 between Tom Oakley (23) and Russam (42) looked to give Trowbridge the upper hand as they started to accelerate the run rate in the closing overs of their innings.

Edward Wilkins ended that partnership with a fine diving catch on the cover boundary from the bowling of the veteran Kevin Iles, claiming the wicket of Oakley. Iles took a further wicket and Rob Turner took his tally to 4 for 49 from 14 overs, as Trowbridge struggled to find runs in the final overs, loosing their last 3 wickets for just 3 runs and closing on 199 all out.

The Goatacre batsmen took advantage of the Trowbridge bowler's poor line and length from the outset. Having lost Gee (11) in the 5th over with the score on 28, Rob Turner and Steve Lines scored freely advancing Goatacre toward their target at 5 runs per over.

Turner (38) was adjudged LBW in the 17th over and Scott Curwood followed 3 balls later caught behind and Goatacre were 82 for 3.

Jif Wilkins steadied the ship, and built a 76 run 4th wicket partnership with Lines to advance Goatacre to 159. Both Wilkins (40) and Lines (60) lost their wicket to Edginton in the 29th over, but Goatacre were well on their way to victory.

Goatacre lost just 1 more wicket before Edward Wilkins secured the win, blasting the Trowbridge captain Holbrook for a huge six over the club house, with more than 12 overs remaining.

This was an excellent performance by the Goatacre team and has given them a great boost ahead of their npower Village Knockout final against Little Durnford on Sunday.

The match starts at 2.30pm in Goatacre and the club welcomes supporters at the ground, entrance is free. The England v France game will be shown on the big screen in the clubhouse afterwards.

Goatacre face Lydney in Saturday's Glos/Wilts League Division One match.