GOATACRE will face an early top-of-the-table clash this weekend after making it two wins from two in Premier Two Glos/Wilts with a four-wicket success at Thornbury.

That result has seen Ed Wilkins’ side collect 39 points from their opening pair of fixtures this season and only leaders Westbury & District have more with 40.

Wilkins, whose side began the campaign by beating Biddestone at home, said: “Looking at the fixtures, we set ourselves the target of trying to win the first two games and we’re very pleased we’ve been able to do that.

“We’ve built up a bit of confidence and now we’ve got what is already a really big fixture coming up next against Westbury as they have started the season with two wins from two as well.”

Brilliant bowling from Matt House set Goatacre on the way to their win over Thornbury as he took 4-46 to restrict the hosts to a total of 175.

There were two wickets each for Josh Langley and Brad Dawson, while opener Dan Davis top scored for the Thorns with 62.

Lachlan Beggs, who was dismissed for a duck, was the only member of the Goats’ top order to make a contribution with the bat as Wilkins’ side eased home on 176-6 in the 38th over.

Jack Haines top scored with 38 as six of the top seven made double figures, while Luke Frankin took 3-46.

“Matt bowled really well and at one point we had them at 17-4 and he’d taken all of the wickets,” said Wilkins.

“They managed to regroup and put a solid score together but if you’d offered us a target of 175 at the start we’d have taken that.

“When you are chasing a score like that you just need a couple of partnerships. Everyone chipped in and made a bit of a score and it never really looked in any doubt.”

Elsewhere, skipper George Linde top scored with 82 as Biddestone claimed a first win of the summer, beating Hatherley & Reddings by 54 runs at home.

Linde was the only Biddestone batsman to pass 50, although an unbroken ninth-wicket stand between Naeem Khan (33 not out) and Luke Panes (22no) helped the hosts to a total of 217-8.

Dwaine Perry then led the way with the ball as his figures of 3-23 restricted the Hatherley reply to 163, with Linde and Chris Baker also picking up two wickets apiece.

Chippenham remain without a win as 93 from Owen Alsop proved to be in vain during a 12-run defeat at home to Westbury & District.

Westbury opener Michael Coles smashed 102 and Arran Dickinson added 70 as the home side hit 256-4, with Stan Alsop taking 3-41 for Chippenham.

Owen Alsop looked to have got the Chippenham reply into a strong position but Coles was their chief tormentor again as his 3-43 saw them fall to 244 all out in the final over.

There was also bad news for Burbage & Easton Royal as they went down by 11 runs at home to Cheltenham.

Adam Lavis and Jonathan Chandler took three wickets apiece as Cheltenham were restricted to 167, with 52 of those coming from James Schofield.

Schofield was then to the fore with the ball as he took 4-12 to cut short the Burbage reply at 156, with only Deepak Joon (41) making a notable contribution.