ONE QUESTION is echoing around Stayley Cricket Club – which way to Lord’s?
For the Millbrook-based side is heading to the home of cricket after reaching the final of the Voneus Village Cup.
It was not without nerves, but Gloucestershire-based side Dumbleton was eventually overcome, even though they were bowled out for just 88 runs.
Confidence at Oxford Street turned to trepidation as wickets tumbled, but 25 not out by captain Nick Woodhead, including one six that flew into the woods next to the ground, sparked scenes of jubilation.
Immediately afterwards, Stayley’s team song, a play on Modjo’s 2001 hit Lady (Hear Me Tonight – think Stayley instead of Lady – boomed out of a jubilant dressing room.
And the man who hit the winning runs could not play down just how important the September 21 showpiece against defending champions Foxton Granta is for the club.
He told The Correspondent, sighing through his first three words: “Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.”
He added: “The lads have fought hard all season for this and it’s unreal.
“In 2023, we got to the semis. We lost it and you know what, the lads have used their experience.
“We went 110 per cent from ball one. I can’t fault the lads and it’s everything that we wanted.
“To be honest, the first thing that went through my head when the ball came off my bat for the winning shot was, ‘Is it going for four? Because there’s a little bit of loft in there.’
“But it came off sweet and getting there means absolutely everything. However, getting there is one step, but winning is another.”
Now Stayley have made Lord’s after seeing off last year’s runners-up, the players have a few weeks to concentrate on their Greater Manchester Cricket League competitions.
“We had a massive game the day before,” the captain added. “That was third against fourth, so we had to do what we did in the league without thinking too much about the semi-final.
“It’s difficult to not think about the final. You’ve got to get organised, there’s a lot that will go into it. But you’ve got to try and get around the troops and we’ve got to go again. Every game matters.
“We’re going for promotion, we’re going for the league and that’s going to be difficult as it is.”
Stayley laid the platform with Mehmood Ul-Hassan taking four wickets as Dumbleton were skittled without reaching three figures.
However, it needed a steadying influence to get them over the line – enter the captain, who scored 235 off as many balls to seal a four wicket victory, and sark huge celebrations.
“There are times in this competition where you need special innings,” he calmly added.
“We bowled them out for 88. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a traceable score, but it was a difficult pitch, with good bowlers and they’ve got the experience having been there a couple of times.
“But we managed to see it home, which is the main thing.”
While celebrations at Stayley were huge, there was e motion of a different sort as the club mourns the death of Lorraine Downend.
“We lost a special woman in Lorraine,” Nick said. “She was a massive part of the club and was for years. I was very close to her myself.
“So that’s for her.”