A REARGUARD action from the Horsford tail denied Godmanchester their fourth consecutive victory in the weekend gloom. Captain Bevis Moynan said the draw felt more like a defeat as the final two visiting batsmen batted for 40 balls to deny Goddy. Despite t

A REARGUARD action from the Horsford tail denied Godmanchester their fourth consecutive victory in the weekend gloom.

Captain Bevis Moynan said the draw felt more like a defeat as the final two visiting batsmen batted for 40 balls to deny Goddy.

Despite the disappointing draw, Godmanchester currently sit proudly in third position in the EAPL - the club's highest ever league position in mid-season.

A match dogged by persistent drizzle was lit-up by visiting pace bowler Richard Gilliatt, who ended with figures of 7-50.

Gilliatt had Godmanchester in trouble at 10-3 with Matt Durrant, Clark Comer and Paul Swannell all back in the pavilion with single figures.

It was left to Matt Pateman and Praneeth Jayasundera to lift the Goddy innings, with the Sri Lankan racing to 50 in just 47 balls.

At the other end, Pateman played a patient innings as the pair put on a stand of 103 for the fourth wicket before Jayasundera fell to Gilliatt for 67.

Craig Park was again dogged by poor form when he was out in single figures - controversially caught after defending a high yorker.

Pateman finished with 48, while Wayne Bradley (28no) and David McCallum (45) added a valuable 45 as Godmanchester finished on 184-8 in their 57 overs.

The home bowlers quickly found their rhythm as any hope of a Horsford victory was quickly dispelled.

Paul Swannell, Moynan and Jayasundera had the visitors in trouble at 46-5 after 25 overs, with victory looking a formality.

Matthew Wilkinson (21) and Matthew Warnes (12) helped delay the home attack but when Elliott Baldwin (2-1) and Swannell (3-24) reduced Horsford to 70-9 with seven and a half overs left, Goddy were celebrating.

However, experienced captain Paul Newman (10no) and wicket-keeper Darren Smith (1no) batted out time to secure a share of the points.

Horsford managed only three boundaries in the face of some economical bowling from the home side, but it wasn't enough for Godmanchester.

Next up for Bevis Moynan's men is a visit to struggling Clacton-on-Sea.

n Full scorecard - Page 140.