Butler braces for big clash with Thundersley

5:44pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

HARLOW skipper James Butler is preparing his side for a 'real 40-pointer' against fourth-placed Hadleigh and Thundersley at Marigolds this week.

Butler saw his team's lead at the top of Division Two slashed to just four points after their defeat to Walthamstow, while closest rivals Fives and Loughton both recorded victories.

The results have put severe pressure on Harlow, and Butler knows his side need to respond at the first opportunity.

"We're still top which is great, but we have a real 40-pointer against Hadleigh this week," he said.

"We have to pick ourselves up and play some positive cricket as we now have nothing to lose.

"There is, in my mind, no difference between third place and third from bottom, so we will be playing with no fear of failure and to just enjoy ourselves."

A disjointed Harlow team were taken apart by Greg Harris' Walthamstow on Saturday, with the Marigolds men failing with the bat to make the task easy for their hosts.

After capitulating for just 143, owed largely to an impressive five-wicket haul from Harris, the bowlers could only manage four Stow wickets as the home side cruised to their modest target.

Both departments will have to rediscover their good early season form if they are to maintain their lead at the top of the league and defeat Hadleigh.

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