Goatacre's dream of a return to Lord's is over for another year.

The Wiltshire area champions have twice claimed the National Village Cricket Championship at the world-famous old ground, but any hope of a hat-trick of titles was dashed by top Cornwall outfit Werrington.

In a cruel repeat of last year's competition, Goatacre fell in the last 16 to Cornish opposition.

With home advantage, the Wiltshire side were well fancied to go one better this year, but their glut of talented batsmen didn't match the potency of earlier rounds as they totalled 172 all out.

The visitors surpassed the mark with three of the allotted 40 overs remaining, for the loss of five wickets.

A lack of runs on the board certainly cost Goatacre dearly, and a modest total could have been an embarrassing one but for ever-reliable veteranKevin Iles.

The hosts had slumped to just 52-5 early on as the usually free-scoring Scott Curwood walked for five and Rob Turner limped into double figures.

Skipper Pete Turner then went without scoring and Goatacre were in all sorts of trouble.

But Iles, aided by Andrew Donegan, steadied the ship. A succession of sixes saw the old campaigner - a member of Goatacre's 1990 Lord's side - race to 71. Donegan chipped in with 21 as the home team recovered to set a reasonable target.

Werrington though, wasted little time in chasing the total. Opener Ben Smeeth, along with Adam and Mark Hodgson contributed 35, 37 and 39 not out respectively.

The run chase slowed after a stunning start, but the Cornishmen picked up the tempo again in the final five overs, and despite the best efforts of Curwood (3-26), Hodgson's final four saw them reach 175 and the Goatacre players sank to their knees in despair.

Home captain Turner admitted that his side's batsmen had underperformed, but was philosophical in defeat.

He said: "We're very disappointed. A lot of people have put in a lot of work here. The competition means so much to many people.

"We didn't score enough runs. We bowled and fielded very well, and in effect restricted them to below 200 which we'd want to be able to chase on our home ground.

"A couple of decisions went against us, and their guys made a couple of flying catches. Another day they might have dropped them or the umpire might have said not out.

"It is the ultimate dream (to get to Lord's) but only two of the 600 teams competing can get there. But there's always next year.

"In a perverse kind of way I'm glad that everyone is so disappointed that we're out. It shows what the competition means to all the players. There's always next year."

Scores: Goatacre 172 (K Iles 71, Curwood 21). Werrington 175-5 (A Hodgson 39 no, M Hodgson 37, Smeeth 35).

Goatacre team: Curwood, R Turner, Gee, P Turner, Dawson, Donegan, K Iles, Wilkins, Parish, A Iles, Heer.