In The Press

Defending champions Finedon have started the season impressively and currently lie second in the table after beating Stony Stratford last week.

By contrast, Wollaston have found life with the big boys tough and are still searching for their first win.

On paper, it looks a foregone conclusion but captain Chris Goode is warning his side that this is exactly the sort of banana-skin game that could trip them up if they are not careful.

"I'm good mates with Steve Musgrave at Wollaston and he tells me they are edging closer and closer to that first win, which I'm sure will come, but I definitely do not want it happening this week," said Goode.

"We need to go out there and show the same professionalism and attitude we did against Stony who are another side down near the bottom.

"We played very well in that game, particularly in the bowling. Robert Pack, Will Sneath and Andy Roberts all bowled very well and I'm looking for the same sort of performance again."

Wollaston's Chris Perry admits he and his team-mates face a tough job but he is relishing the occasion, especially after their solid draw with Northampton Saints last week.

"These are the sort of games we want to be involved with and we're all looking forward to it," he said.

"Of course it will be hard, Chris Goode is an excellent captain and his side will be very well prepared for the game.

"But we were delighted with how well be played last week. Saints are a good side so we were very pleased to withstand them as we did.

"I think we're beginning to develop that toughness we need to compete in this division and I really feel we are capable of getting something from the game."

It must be Wollaston's most eagerly-anticipated sporting contest for centuries

Since, probably, the great tug-of-war tussle between the ploughboys and the miller's apprentices, shortly after King Henry III awarded his royal charter to the village's Michaelmas Fair in about 1260.

Or at least since last September, when Harmit Bahra's side beat Geddington to ensure top-flight cricket at London Road for the first time since the club entered the old County League half-a-century ago.

Wollaston make their NCL Premier Division debut this afternoon, away to Rushton.

It's a summer full of exciting possibilities for all concerned, and not least for batting stalwart Nick Shelton who stands on the threshold of history.

His current tally of 10,366 runs for the first team places him just 127 behind the all-time record-holder, Paul Jones.

And the prospect of setting a new mark during the side's maiden 'Prem' campaign is appealing – to put it mildly.

"I've been around here a long time, and have been lucky enough to get a knock most weeks," says Shelton, who made his first appearance in Wollaston colours way back in 1983.

"So I would have been disappointed not to rack up a few runs!

"Obviously it'd be nice to break the record playing in the Premier Division – I can't deny that.

"And it'll be even nicer if it comes in the first couple of matches.

"But – and I know this sounds a bit cheesy – the most important thing is that the team does well.

"So I'll be quite happy to sit there and watch the likes of Liam Bates and Mark Ralph knocking it around."

Promotion for Wollaston came after a string of near-misses in recent years.

They finished fourth in NCL Division One in both 2003 and 2004, and climbed to runners-up spot in each of the following two seasons – missing out to Burton Latimer by just four points on the last Saturday of the league programme in 2006.

"Burton are a great bunch of lads and we've had some terrific games against them over the years," adds Shelton.

"We usually seemed to have the rub of the green. In fact, I think the only time they beat us was in the season they went up.

"You look at the situation in football where the Championship is very competitive now, and very difficult to get out of."

"That's certainly the case in our first division – especially with only one team going up.

"Yes, it was frustrating for us to get so close so often. But it's usually the best side that gets promoted in the end, and you just have to accept that.

"I certainly think we were the best team last year."

When it comes to pitching the level of ambition for the next few months, history would appear to be on Wollaston's side.

It's an interesting little factoid that since 2001 the club gaining promotion into the top flight has managed to stay there – from Stony
Stratford via Rushden (2002), Desborough (2003), Rushton (2004) and Irthlingborough (2005) to Burton.

And those who claim the current 'Prem' is, in effect, two divisions in one might point to the Northants Championship table for 2000 to back up their contention.

Of the 12 teams, only six will be competing for the NCL's main prize in 2008 – Finedon, County Colts (now NCCC Academy), Old Northamptonians,
Peterborough, Northampton Saints and Irthlingborough.

And they filled half-a-dozen of the top seven places in 2007.

Horton House have joined Wellingborough Town, Rothwell, Brixworth and Old Wellingburians in dropping down, while Bedford Town are no longer involved in senior cricket.

So what price Wollaston to infiltrate the 'magic circle' of leading sides?

Shelton insists: "Everyone here is up for the challenge.

"We're not naive enough to think that we won't have some very, very tough games this year.

"And after getting used to winning plenty of matches in Division One, those days will be the ones that really test us.

"To use another comparison with soccer – you hear people who are promoted into the Premier League say that their first target is to simply stay there.

"But I'm optimistic and I think we need to set our sights a bit higher than that.

"When you see Burton Latimer managing to beat Finedon in the league last year – it gives all of us hope!"

Shelton's player profile on Wollaston's superb website includes the suggestion that, in the event of a whopping big lottery win, the club should 'employ Brett Lee for a year and buy some concrete underpants to give to the opposition.'

In fact, they have rejected the 'quick fix' approach to ensuring competitiveness at the top level, keeping close-season recruitment to a minimum.

"The big thing to remember is that we are a club, not a team. It's important we don't lose that," said Shelton.

"You look at other clubs who've brought in five or six players from outside and very often it's backfired on them.

"Looking at the cricketers we have here, I think we're capable of holding our own in the division.

"After all, it's what you play for – the chance to test yourself against the best opposition around."

Wollaston from the peak of his cap to the studs in his boots, Shelton readily admits that seeing his team-mate Simon Driver hit the winning boundary against

Geddington last year was "the best moment of my cricketing life so far."

Could anything possibly beat that? The next 22 Saturdays may provide an answer.

Honours even in a thriller