ASTON INGHAM’s Alex Gooding fired a magnificent 100 not out off 107 balls at Northamptonshire’s Loddington and Mawsley in the National Village Cup fifth round on Sunday.

But it wasn’t enough to stop them from going out of the prestigious nationwide competition, as they agonisingly lost by three wickets in the last over.

Gooding’s ton included 16 fours, while Anthony James hit nine fours in his 58 and Dharzekanth Yoganadan four boundaries in his 44, with Aston reaching 222-4 off 40 overs.

Simon Clark and Mikey Gooch made early inroads to leave the hosts 25-2, but successive partnerships of 73, 48 and 60 took them past the 200-mark when three late wickets gave Aston new hope.

James struck at the start of the 36th over (206-5), Gooch first ball next over (211-6) and Gooding at the start of the 39th over (217-7).

The hosts still needed four to win off the last four balls, but Aston’s hopes were then firmly dispatched to the boundary next ball.

Gooch took two wickets and Clark, Toby O’Neill, James and Gooding one apiece.

Their battling exit followed victory by 92 runs 24 hours earlier at home to Oxfordshire outfit Langford in the West of England Premier League’s Gloucester division, which lifted them to third.

Aston openers Nic Merrin and Gooding scored 20 off the first four overs, but skipper Gooding was bowled midway through the fifth having hit three fours in his 14.

Merrin and James put on 77 for the second wicket, the opener being trapped lbw in the 22nd for a 44 that included nine fours.

James holed out for a top-score 53 in the 30th over (133-4), while Gooch added a blistering 36 off 21 balls as Aston reached 214 all out in 47.5 overs.

Gooch was quickly among the wickets, bowling Freddie Webb with the last ball of the first over before claiming a wicket maiden trapping Jake Romanek lbw to leave the visitors 28-2.

Gooch claimed his third wicket with the final ball of the 10th when Liam Court went to a Merrin catch (32-3).

And the bowler had his fourth when he was skied by Aaron Court and gathered by Tim Dulson (48-4) before spinner Simon Clark claimed a wicket bowling Harry Stevens (53-5).

Sam Didcote opened his account trapping Langford’s top scorer William Parsons lbw for 26 (84-6), and added a caught and bowled on the second ball of the 29th over (98-7).

Oliver Dennis next claimed a wicket maiden when Merrin caught Tino Mushonga, before James bowled Matt Bicker at the end of the 35th over (129-9) and then skittled Ali Malin for a duck in the 37th, leaving Langford all out for 122.

But Aston 2nds lost by 76 runs at Highnam Court after the hosts scored 314-7, Ritesh Shekoba firing an incredible 139 off 70 balls that included 10 sixes and 14 fours, with Ethan Drew-White taking three wickets.

Will Green fired 82 in reply including two sixes and 15 fours, but Aston were all out for 238.

The 3rds won a nail-biter by 10 runs though away to Ashleworth Woodpeckers 1sts, Tim Smith top-scoring with 35 in their 176-6 before Simon King took 5-24 as the hosts finished on 166-9.

But the 4ths lost by 112 runs at home to Corse & Staunton 3rds, reaching 112-9 in reply to 228 all out, Alex Cluley taking four wickets for Aston.