GOATACRE returned to the top half of Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Division One table after Scott Curwood rattled up a century in a 86-run victory at Bredon.

The visitors won the toss and batted first on a pitch still green from recent rain.

Steve Gee and Rob Turner got them off to an excellent start, hitting 41 runs from the first seven overs before Turner was caught at long off for 25.

Gee was immediately bowled by Bridge for 14, but Scott Curwood and Jif Wilkins then batted superbly to take complete control of the match.

After 20 overs the score was 104 and they carried on until the 35th, before Wilkins was caught trying to up the tempo for 55, of a partnership of 138.

This heralded a mini-collapse as Pete Turner and Matt Wilkins fell for ducks and Sam Parish was leg before for one, Goatacre losing four wickets in four overs.

Curwood, however, took on the responsibility, going to his century with a pull for four as the 200 came up in the 40th over.

With help from Rahn Heer, he took his score to 133 before being caught in the 49th over.

Goatacre eventually reached 261-9 and after Bredon had been reduced to 29-3 in the 13th over, following excellent new-ball bowling from Adam Iles and Turner, the game was all but over.

Resistance came only from Fenney with 42 and Hill with 29, but Goatacre took wickets at regular intervals as Heer (4-55 from 15 overs), Rob Turner and Jif Wilkins all bowled well.

Adam Iles came back for the last wicket to end with 3-29 as Bredon were all out for 175.

Goatacre 2nd bowled visitors Apperley out fot 135 before Mark Atkinson, with 82, and Nigel Brown (51) saw their side to a 10-wicket victory in 22 overs.