Colchester & east Essex 223-7
Chingford 144-a/o
(Premier League)

CHINGFORD skipper Sam Kirnon is preparing himself for a ‘scrap’ to the finish as they moved off the bottom despite losing to Colchester.

The Forestsiders’ bowlers did well to restrict their hosts to 223-7 but after their top four all gained good starts, the chase fell apart and they eventually fell 79 runs short of their target.

Ben McGregor continued his impressive form with the ball by claiming three wickets to help tighten the screw on Colchester, but it was the batsmen that couldn’t deliver when the pressure was on.

After a superb performance with the bat last week, the top four of Jamie Hill, Paul Shawyer, Kirnon and Rob Whitfield all started where they left off, getting away well but they all succumbed in the 20s, while the middle and lower orders couldn’t boost them towards their goal.

Kirnon knows his team are starting to show signs of improvement when it matters most.

But he is well aware he has a dogfight on his hands, as he will go head-to-head with South Woodford to avoid the dreaded drop, with the team holding just a two-point cushion over their local rivals.

“It’s up to us now. The future of the club lies in our hands,” said the captain.

“This will separate the men from the boys.

“We have home games against Hainault and Gidea Park coming up and I think we need one win and a couple of draws from our final games.

“We have to be confident we can do that and we need to be prepared to scrap all the way. I enjoy a scrap,” he said.