Foxton manager Matt Gray is labelling his side’s crucial Davidstow’s National Village Cup last four clash with Goatacre this weekend as “the real cup final”.

The Foxes moved to within one match of competing for the trophy at world famous Lord’s after ousting Kent outfit Sibton Park in their own backyard by 58 runs in their re-arranged quarter-final on Sunday.

Opener Cei Sanderson, currently the leading run scorer in the competition, backed up his stats again with a fine knock of 112 to see the visitors to 225-7 off their 40 overs.

Sibton were rocked by the removal of three of their top order batsmen in the first two overs and they never recovered, leaving Gray and his team to lick their lips at the prospect of turning out at the home of cricket on Sunday, September 13.

Gray told the Crow: “We were really happy with our total of 225 and thought it gave us a good shot at pulling off the win.

“Dismissing some of their main men in the opening stages cranked up the pressure on them and that’s what got us over the line in the end.

“It’s safe to say we’re buzzing for the next match and for me, this is the real cup final.

“The prize is to get to Lord’s and we’re now within touching distance and hopefully we can pull out one more big performance on Sunday.”

The ingredients for the encounter leave a bubbling cauldron of opportunity for Gray’s men.

After early exits in the past two seasons, the visit of the Wiltshire team represents Foxton’s first home tie since being knocked out of the 2012 competition by eventual winners, and near neighbours, Reed in the fifth round.

Having seen their ambitions slip through their fingers that year, Gray preceded to follow Reed’s run to the final that included a trip, and subsequent win, at Goatacre in the semi-finals.

Perhaps the omens are pointing towards another historic Foxton win, in this, the club’s longest-ever run in the tournament.

He continued: “We have a huge incentive now but we are wary of choking at such a critical stage.

“We hold no fear going into this match but we won’t get carried away after some good showings.

“We know who’s in the other semi-final (Woodhouse Grange and Pelsall) but we’re solely focussed on what we have to do. If we weren’t, we would be handing Goatacre the advantage.”