WOODHOUSES are just one game from Lord’s after a heart-stopping quarter-final victory in the npower National Village Cup.

The Failsworth area side TIED with Derbyshire County League side Shipley Hall before a 600-plus crowd at Medlock Road.

The ground went silent as the stunned spectators wondered what was happening, but then celebrated joyously as the Woodhouses players ran on to the field - having checked the rules, and realised that they had won on a faster scoring rate in the first 20 overs.

Shipley Hall made 181-6, and Woodhouses were also six wickets down and needing nine off the last over.

James Clarke was caught on the boundary from the first delivery, when it looked likely to go for six. But the despair turned to elation when the delivery was dramatically deemed a no-ball, and the batsmen also took a single.

Key batsman Alan Starmer and Clarke took singles off the next three balls, then Clarke hit a boundary off the next to level the scores.

Clarke by this time had been made aware that, with the scores and wickets level, if there was no further change Woodhouses would win - having been 72-2 at 20 overs while the visitors were 59-2.

So he blocked the last two balls and prompted emotional victory scenes, with Starmer the hero having anchored his side with an unbeaten 46.

The Lancashire County League side now host holders Woodhouse Grange, of South Yorkshire, in the semi-final a week on Sunday, when key all-rounder Chris Atherton - brother of former England captain Mike - will be available after being on holiday on Spain.

Said skipper Gareth Tuson: “Chris phoned after the game and when we told him what had happened he jumped into the pool fully clothed!

“It was a fantastic day. The ground was silent when James Clarke blocked the last two balls and most people did not know what was happening. But when they saw us running on to the pitch they went mad.”

Woodhouses also won off the last ball in the last 32 against Compstall when, needing three to win, Starmer hit the last ball for six

“There have been such a lot of close finishes along the way,” added Tuson. “It will give me a heart attack! “Now we are looking to another fantastic day in the semi-final. One game from Lord’s - it doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?”

Tuson put Shipley Hall in and saw 17-year-old Josh Buckley make 43 and Mark Starr 42 out of their 181-6, with two wickets for Ashley Prescott.

Opener Mike Cassidy made 34 of the home reply, Tuson himself hit 36, but it was left to Starmer and Clarke to become the last over heroes and set up the dream prospect of a trip to the home of world cricket.

RELEGATION-threatened Macclesfield shocked title-chasing Bowdon in the ECB Premier Division of the Cheshire County League.

Khalid Swas made 85 and Adam Syddall took 4-47 in Macc’s 178, then the visitors toppled the Altrincham area side for 155, off-spinner Rob Porter turning the game with a six-over spell which earned him 4-8.