Ainsdale travelled 500 miles for their latest match in the Voneus Village Cup – over the next few rounds, they might travel 500 more.

But if skipper Andy Barlow gets to be the man who lifts the trophy at Lord’s in September, it will all have been worth it.

He took his side on an epic round trip to Falkland, in the Lomond Hills Regional Park, a scenic part of eastern Scotland between Kirkcaldy and Perth.

After skittling the hosts for 82, thanks to Owen Harrison’s 4/14, they came home with an eight-wicket win.

Their reward is a last 16 trip to Shireshead & Forton, a little closer to home in the Westmorland Cricket League.

“It must be a record for a Comp team to go that far on a Sunday,” said Barlow after the Falkland game.

“The club was beautiful and the people were great. They started on fire, to be honest, but all of a sudden we took a wicket and went through them.”

With the dangling carrot of a game at the Home of Cricket, it’s no wonder so many village sides from across the country are keen to take part. 

Rainford’s run to the semi-finals last year helped keep the momentum going as they earned promotion to the Premier Division of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition – Ainsdale’s run is more of a distraction from a poor start to the league season.

In the regional rounds, they edged out Sedgwick with a last-ball stumping, and Wrea Green thanks to a century by Stuart Naden.

Barlow said: “We’ve had some great games in this competition. 

“Seeing new grounds and going to new places is great, they’re all unique and lovely in their own way. 

“And doing a bit of travelling with the team has kept our spirits up because we’ve been struggling on a Saturday – instead of losing and thinking about that all week, it gives the lads a bit of confidence.”

Ainsdale are currently second from bottom in Division One, with a game in hand on everyone above them.

It’s a worrying position for Barlow, and it’s gone a stage beyond their usual slow start.

He knows results have to improve in order to avoid playing Second Division cricket for the first time since 2011 – starting tomorrow against Sefton Park.

Barlow added: “I’d be lying if I said I thought we’d be in a relegation fight at the start of the season.

“But that’s where we are.

“The division is the strongest it’s ever been – a lot of weeks, we’re turning up to face two left-arm pros bowling 50 overs if they want.

“We’ve found it hard to compete. But there’s a big run of games coming up and hopefully we can get out of trouble.”