Haresfield Gladiators won a low-scoring game by just two runs in what turned out to be a thriller at Ruardean Hill.

It was only their third victory of the season in Division Seven of the Gloucestershire County League and despite the win they remain in ninth place in the 10-strong division with just three games to play.

It was actually their second win in successive games – they beat Painswick 2nds by four wickets the previous week – but this victory was just that bit more special.

“We were quite excitable at the end,” said captain Astie Bolton. “It’s been a tough season, so to see it over the line was very nice.”

Mind you, victory looked a long-shot at the halfway stage after they’d been bowled out for just 118 against opponents who had walloped them by 158 runs back in June.

At one stage on Saturday, Haresfield were 68-2 before the wickets started to tumble and Bolton admitted: “It didn’t look good, their top order took us apart at our place earlier in the season, but once we had them 40-5 we started to believe.”

Opening bowling Ali Smith was the star of the show with 4-13 from his eight overs and there was also two wickets for his new-ball partner Toby Malpas, while Bolton also chipped in with a couple.

But it was Smith’s brother Tim who claimed the match-winning wicket when he had Aaron Bennett stumped by Steve Jones for 23 after the last pair looked to be inching their side to victory having come together with the score on 105.

“It was very, very exciting,” added Bolton, whose dad Andrew was also part of the team, one of four father-and son combinations in the side.

The other three were Andy Malpas and his son Toby, Steve Jones and his son Conrad, and Ali Smith and his son Jake.