LLOYD Belcher believes Horspath can rise to the challenge as they aim to move one step closer to Lord’s.

The Home Counties Premier League side face Welsh outfit Ynystawe in the last 32 of the Voneus Village Cup at the Recreation Ground tomorrow (1pm).

Horspath host the Glamorgan & Gwent champions in the first national round of the competition, after beating Aston Rowant in the Oxfordshire final.

It is the first time they have reached this stage since 1979, while Ynystawe, from near Swansea, won the cup in 2001.

But Horspath are fuelled by the belief of a six-game winning streak in their second season under Belcher’s leadership – and the captain is feeling positive.

“We’ve taken some good steps forward and I’m becoming more confident in the role,” he said.

“Our coach David Ward has done a bit of homework on them, but I don’t want to think too much about that.

“We’re in good form so we’ve got to focus on ourselves.”

Horspath had waited 42 years to be Oxfordshire champions before their 80-run win over Rowant, but history did not prove a barrier.

“I knew it was going to be a big occasion, but I only got told how long it had been the day before,” Belcher said.

“You could tell from the second we got to the ground how much the players wanted to win.

“Everyone wanted to step up and be the match-winner.”

The forecast means there are genuine fears of a wash-out, which would force a rescheduled clash in South Wales next weekend.

Belcher said: “We know they have a long trip and a lot of people will be there, so we’ll try our best to get a game on.”