Essex County's bowlers have moved on into the quarter finals of the Liberty Trophy after beating Gloucestershire by 119 shots to 111 at Desborough in a thrilling match that would have graced the final.

Essex soon got into their stride and were ahead and looking comfortable right up to the half way stage but, in a remarkable turnaround, the Gloucestershire bowlers raised their game and turned a 17 shot deficit into a 15 shot lead.

It was now the turn of the Essex bowlers to look worried but it was all change again several ends later when the rink skipped by Falcon's Joe Stamper picked up a seven and that skipped by his club mate David Gildersleve, a four.

Once Essex eased ahead they got a lead, which they were never to lose.

With five of the rinks finished and Essex five up overall, Stamper's squad still had four ends to play.

The lead was increased to nine after a four on the 18th end and reduced by two in the 19th and 20th.

With only one end remaining, the Gloucester quartet faced the daunting task of having to score a 'full house' of eight to win the match.

Skip Mike Jordan 'killed' the end once but was unable to prevent Essex getting another shot to win an exciting encounter.

Essex team manager John Rodwell said: "This was a match which neither team deserved to lose''.

''It's always dangerous to make predictions in bowls but morale is high and we shall be doing our best to go all the way in this competition."

Essex play Buckinghamshire in the quarter finals on January 23, and the rest of the draw is Lancashire v. Northumberland, Lincolnshire v. Nottinghamshire and Cornwall v. Dorset.

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