GOATACRE skipper Ed Wilkins acclaimed his side's Hollywood-style ending to the West of England Premier League season as the villagers clinched the Premier Two Glos/Wilts title amid remarkable scenes on Saturday.

With the home side still five runs short of the winning target set by nearest title rivals Cheltenham, Wilkins' injured brother Jif was carried to the Goatacre Cricket Ground crease as the number 11 batsman, having injured his knee in the field earlier in the day.

The stricken Wilkins then proceeded to blast a four off his first delivery, earn the single off the second ball which secured the tie and effectively the title for his side, then struck another boundary to wrap up the match victory and start the celebrations.

It ensured that Goatacre sealed the honours by 21 points from their Gloucestershire rivals, earning promotion to the top-tier Premier One next season for the first time in their history, even if the finale was a little more nerve-wracking than his captaining sibling would have wished for.

"It was a little bit too close for comfort but you couldn't have written the ending really,'' said Ed Wilkins.

"Jif got injured when he slid into a wall while fielding and his (left) knee was like a football. We didn't think he was going to be able to bat.

"We were all for ringing an ambulance to get him off to hospital but he said 'I'm not going anywhere'.

"Then, when it got down to the last batsman, a couple of our guys had to carry him out to the middle.

"He stood there, smashed a four, got the single and then another four which won it for us.

"He's been to hospital since and it's bad tissue damage but he was the hero, even though I don't like saying it too much because he's my brother.''

Cheltenham had earlier declared on 225-7, with Nick Evans scoring 82 and James Schofield 49, while the hosts' Gloucestershire ace Benny Howell took three wickets, then starred in the winning reply with 101 from 102 balls before Wilkins' late heroics.

Goatacre have been famed for their Lord's victories in the National Village Cup competition in 1988 and 1990 and skipper Wilkins admits it is nice for the current generation to be writing a new chapter in their illustrious history.

"A few of the older guys like Kev Iles were saying that this ranked alongside those Lord's matches so you can see it's special for the club,'' he added.

"We've come close a couple of times but to play a big game where it's winner takes all and achieve what you want to is really big.

"It's brilliant for the club. There must have been 200 people down there on Saturday and it was a great occasion.

"We've only lost one (league) game this year, so I think you can say we've deserved it.''