TIM Morgan insists Aston Rowant will not be distracted by a dream Lord’s final when they take on Reed this weekend.

The Oxfordshire club face the Hertfordshire side in the semi-finals of the Watsons Village Cup on Sunday.

More than 100 supporters are expected to descend on Reed as Rowant look to continue their impressive form in the competition.

Their dream run has seen them convincingly beat former finalists Rockhampton and 2001 champions Ynystawe in the last two rounds to reach the last four for the first time since 1984.

The players can be forgiven for thinking about the prospect of a maiden Lord’s final, but captain Morgan says all the focus is on Reed.

He said: “It’s a bit cliché, but we just take it one game at a time.

“It’s all down to what happens on Sunday, but no-one’s really talking about it (Lord’s).

“There’s no conscious decision that’s been made, we’re mindful that if we look too far ahead of ourselves it will bite us on the bottom.”

Morgan added: “It’s exciting for everyone involved, really good stuff for the club.

“But when we first started our village knockout run the idea was to go as far as we could and enjoy each game.

“We will turn up at Reed with the same mentality, there’s no pressure on us.”

With Rowant strong contenders for the Division 2 title in the Home Counties Premier League, their first team players would be ineligible for the competition next year if they won promotion.

At the age of 34, bowler Dominic Whatman, who is hoping to shake off a side strain for Sunday, also sees this as one of his last opportunities to reach the final.

He said: “It’s been great to be a part of.

“It’s a fantastic competition and great to emulate the team from the 1980s, which got to the semis.

“We would love to go two places better, but it’s going to be a very tough game against Reed, who have got a lot of history and pedigree.”

He added: “It’s still a big if, but if the first team do get promoted this year it will rule us out the competition for the time being.

“We would still be able to play a second XI, so we’re kind of seeing this year as, not last chance saloon, but our last decent crack at it for a while.

“Myself being a little bit older than the rest, it’s probably my last chance to do something in the competition as well.”

Rowant have welcomed the support of the Oxfordshire cricket community since they reached the national rounds.

And chairman Paul Humphreys is hoping the club can emulate the success of Tiddington, Shipton-under-Wychwood and Great & Little Tew in reaching Lord’s.

He said: “Oxfordshire has had a very strong history in this competition and obviously Aston Rowant are flying the flag.

“It shows what a strong county we are with regards to club cricket.

“I still play and the first subject everyone wants to talk to me about is the village knockout.

“That shows the kind of feeling for the competition in the county.”